Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

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Photo:

Pat Kolling

Compact American Cranberry Bush

Dwarf American Cranberry Viburnum

American cranberrybush

Latin Name:

Viburnum opulus 'americanum compactum''

This hardy shrub has beautiful foliage that offers a slight red edge when new, then turns a deep red in fall. Does not flower or fruit at a young age and only lightly thereafter.

Taxon ID#

98 MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

2 Sun Preference:

Partial Sun

Water Preference:

M

Soil Preference:

best in good, well-drained, moist soil. Prefers loams with consistent moisture, but tolerates a wide range of soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

Recommended Mulch:

Family:

Adoxaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')

This compact form of American cranberry bush was discovered by Pat Perkins at Bailey Nurseries. Formerly called Compact American cranberry bush.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Leaves simple, opposite, 3-lobed, 5-14 cm long, lobes acuminate, sometimes middle lobe elongated, dark green above; reddish tinge when new

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

White

Flower Description:

Flowers white, in 10 cm flat-topped clusters (cymes).

Fall color:

yes

Fall Color Description:

Deep red leaves and fruits

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

Mature height:

5-6'

Mature spread:

5-6'

Growth rate:

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

no

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

Viburnum opulus synonymous with and formerly known as Viburnum trilobum, is native to swampy woods, bogs, lake margins, pastures, thickets, slopes and moist low places from New Brunswick to British Columbia south to New York, the Great Lakes, South Dakot

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

no

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

yes

Swales:

yes

Wildlife Use:

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

no

Windbreak:

no

Cover Structures:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

no

Adds Texture/Movement:

no

First Bloom:

May

Last Bloom:

May

Ornamental Accent:

no

Garden Observations:

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Prune just before the buds swell in late winter or early spring, or wait to prune it immediately after flowering. Do not prune more than one-third of the bush at this time. You can prune more branches the next year

Summer Care:

Fall Care:

Winter Care:

Prune just before the buds swell in late winter or early spring, or wait to prune it immediately after flowering. Do not prune more than one-third of the bush at this time. You can prune more branches the next year.

Long Term Care:

Examine the shrub to gauge whether or not if it is overgrown and to look for the oldest, most unproductive canes. Prune them back flush to base of the shrub. Make sharp, clean cuts rather than tearing the wood. Now there is room for new, productive branch

Insect Pests:

Watch for aphids. Viburnum crown borer can cause stem dieback.

Wildlife Pests:

Diseases:

Some susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot, stem blight and powdery mildew. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Viburnu

Environmental Problems:

Landscape Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids. Viburnum crown borer can cause stem dieback. Some susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot, stem blight and powdery mildew.

Care Comments:

RESOURCES

OSU Landscape Profile:

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/viburnum-opulus-var-americanum-compactum

USDA Plants:

Calscape Database:

https://calscape.org/loc-California/Viburnum,%20Common%20(Viburnum%20ellipticum)?newsearch=1

LBJ Native Plant Database:

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c365

Monrovia Profile:

Alternate Source 1:

https://shop.baileynurseries.com/Product/Detail/0864?availabilityDate=2020-11-09&returnUrl=%2FProduct%2FInventory%3Ffilter%3D%26category%3D20-SHRUB%26page%3D23%26displayFilters%3Dno%26brand%3D%26height%3D%26heightUnit%3DInches%26zone%3D%26exposure%3D%2

Alternate Source 2:

Source Comment:

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Compact American Cranberry Bush

Dwarf American Cranberry Viburnum

American cranberrybush

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

98

MAINTENANCE

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

2

Sun Preference:

Partial Sun

Water Preference:

M

Soil Preference:

best in good, well-drained, moist soil. Prefers loams with consistent moisture, but tolerates a wide range of soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

​

Recommended Mulch:

​

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')

This compact form of American cranberry bush was discovered by Pat Perkins at Bailey Nurseries. Formerly called Compact American cranberry bush.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Leaves simple, opposite, 3-lobed, 5-14 cm long, lobes acuminate, sometimes middle lobe elongated, dark green above; reddish tinge when new

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

White

Flower Description:

Flowers white, in 10 cm flat-topped clusters (cymes).

Fall color:

yes

Fall Color Description:

Deep red leaves and fruits

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

​

Mature height:

5-6'

Mature spread:

5-6'

Growth rate:

​

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

no

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

Viburnum opulus synonymous with and formerly known as Viburnum trilobum, is native to swampy woods, bogs, lake margins, pastures, thickets, slopes and moist low places from New Brunswick to British Columbia south to New York, the Great Lakes, South Dakot

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

no

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

yes