Pilgrim Cranberry

Size

An edible ground cover. That's Vaccinium macrocarpon Pilgrim. Dense mats of glossy green leaves, first covered in tiny pink blooms, later replaced with red berries that help to suppress weeds in even the wettest of garden spots. Cranberry is a true North American native that looks good and tastes good. Pilgrim Cranberry attracts wildlife to the garden with its tasty nectar and juicy berries. Birds, butterflies and bees will all take turns enjoying this evergreen shrub. Cranberry is somewhat drought tolerant after it has been established for the first two years and would do well as ground cover at the dappled sunny edges of a woodland garden or as a spilling element in a mixed seasonal container. Pilgrim Cranberry Care Pilgrim Cranberry flower and fruit best in a sunny to part shade spot. The soil must be acidic. Preferably a pH of 4.0-4.5. Cranberries are tolerant of extra wet soils as long as they have their heads in the sun. A well drained soil that stays moist with a good mulch is the perfect home for these shrubs. Maintenance is a non-issue with Pilgrim cranberry. Cranberries will freely bloom and fruit without any complicated pruning regime. The only pruning needed will be to keep the plants confined to where you want them to grow. Although this is a native plant, fertilizing it will help the shrubs to maintain vigorous fruiting. A wide range of hardiness zones makes Pilgrim Cranberry a useful edible plant for most gardens. Pilgrim Cranberry Spacing Pilgrim Cranberry has a compact height of 6-12 inches and a width of 18-24 inches. Spacing for use as a groundcover is recommended at 20 inches, center on center. Container grown Cranberries can be added to a mixed planting as the spiller element. Placing the shrub next to the edge will ensure that it has room to spread and drape. Cranberries are also good for planting on a slope for erosion control.