Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon ‘Pilgrim’
When people think “cranberry”, it isn’t often that they also think “phenomenal garden plant” but it’s true. Our native cranberry is a small, crawling shrub that functions beautifully as an evergreen ground cover, retaining its glossy leaves throughout winter. Come spring, watch as delicate, crane-like flowers emerge, giving way to those tart, red berries for which it is named in mid-fall. ‘Pilgrim’ offers particularly large, tasty fruit for you and your local wildlife. Turn your understanding of cranberries on its head and watch as this lovely shrub adds a touch of delectable whimsy to the wetter areas of your garden.
Conditions: Full sun; moist to boggy soil
Size: 6″ tall, 3′ spread
Zone: 4 – 9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract long-tongued bees, including some specialist bees; fruits loved by wildlife, including birds and small mammals; larval host for several butterfly and moth species
