8–12' × same. Formerly known as V. trilobum. Also known as Crampbark. Medicinal multi-stemmed native shrub.
Prized by birds for its bright red fruit and by humans for the highly ornamental flat 4" lacecap clusters of white flowers in May that attract beneficial insects. The “blossom” is an outer ring of bracts encircling smaller white flowers—looks very similar to the bloom of the climbing hydrangea.
Pendulous bunches of red berries ripen mid-October, popular with dozens of bird species. Berries are extremely rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C and can be used for juice, jam, fruit leather and syrups—when boiling them down, don’t let the unpleasant odor deter you. Bark is one of the most effective anti-spasmodic medicinals. Good for screens and hedges; fast growing and will sucker over time. Not to be confused with low-growing American cranberry familiar in sauces.
Native to northeast U.S. and Canada. Self-pollinating. Seed sourced from pure stands of americanum to avoid the common nursery trade mishap of selling the European cranberry, otherwise known as the Snowball Bush. Zone 2.