🍎 Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon
fruits
perennial groundcover
Ericaceae
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
consistently moist to wet; commercial bogs flooded seasonally
🗺️ Zones
2, 7
🧪 Soil pH
4.0, 5.5 (very acidic)
🪴 Soil Type
acidic peat or sandy soil with high water table
🚿 Drainage
Moist
📏 Spacing
12-18 in. apart (groundcover; fills in via runners; plant in 4x4 ft beds)
📐 Height
6-12 in
⏱️ Maturity
2-3 years (from planting); full production at 3-5 years
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Fruit
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (10)
Identical soil pH and moisture; different heights maximize space; shared pollinators
Tolerates acidic conditions; nitrogen source
Nutrient mulch; tolerates moist acidic soil surprisingly well
Same Vaccinium family; identical needs; natural understory combination
Universal companion
🤝 Pine / Conifer (nearby)
Acidifying needle drop; mycorrhizal network sharing
Both ericaceous plants sharing soil requirements
⚠️ Keep Apart (4)
Alkaline soil conflict
Juglone sensitive
📝 Growing Notes
Native bog fruit. Requires acidic, moist soil. Flooded for harvest.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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