3 named cultivars

shrubN. America Native

European Cranberrybush

Q: What zones can European Cranberrybush grow in?

European Cranberrybush is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: Is European Cranberrybush deer resistant?

Yes — European Cranberrybush is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

Q: When does European Cranberrybush bloom?

European Cranberrybush typically blooms in late spring to early summer through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Q: Does European Cranberrybush need full sun?

European Cranberrybush does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Viburnum opulus

$21.99

The Story

Plant Bio

Viburnum opulus, guelder rose or American cranberrybush, is a broad multi-stemmed deciduous shrub reaching 12 to 16 ft tall and 8 to 15 ft wide. The habit is dense, arching and spreading. Glossy dark green leaves 2 to 4 in across are three-lobed with pointed tips and serrated margins, turning yellow to red-purple in autumn.

Flat lacecap heads in late spring ring small fertile florets with a row of large sterile ones, so the display works at a distance without losing the fruit. Bright red 0.3 in drupes follow, shrivelling like tiny raisins after frost and persisting into winter. It hosts the spring azure butterfly.

Uses & Benefits:

Lacecap flower heads in late spring, bright persistent red fruit and yellow to red-purple autumn colour.

A large, adaptable screening shrub that copes with clay, occasional wet ground and a wide pH range.

Host plant for the spring azure butterfly, nectar for bees and butterflies, and heavy winter fruit for birds.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

168 inches

Width

138 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium; tolerates occasionally wet soil

Humidity

Adaptable to most conditions

Lifespan

Long-lived; several decades with stem renewal

Native To

Native in Canada and the northern United States; also Eurasia

Toxicity

Fruit is bitter raw but not considered significantly toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Great Garden Plants

<1 Gal Pot1+ Gal PotTrays

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Nature Hills

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Planting

How to Grow

Choose full sun to partial shade; flowering thins in deep shade.
Plant into moist, fertile soil of any pH with reasonable drainage.
Allow at least 10 ft of width for a mature plant.
Water in well and mulch to hold moisture around the roots.
Prune straight after flowering, before next year's buds form.
Cut a proportion of the oldest stems to the base every few years.

Pro Tip

Check new growth for viburnum leaf beetle in late spring; this species is the beetle's preferred host and can be stripped in a fortnight.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Inspect leaf undersides for beetle egg sites each winter 🔍
Prune within a few weeks of flowering finishing ✂️
Keep the soil moist; it tolerates occasional wet ground 💧
Leave the fruit for birds through the winter 🐦

Don't

Do not plant it where a compact shrub is needed ❌
Do not prune in late summer; you remove next year's flowers ❌
Do not ignore early beetle damage; defoliation follows quickly ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beetle Egg Removal
Prune After Flowering

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Informal screen or large shrub border backboneWildlife hedge with spring flower and winter fruitNaturalised planting on moist or occasionally wet ground

Companion Plants

Red-osier dogwood Winterberry holly Serviceberry Elderberry Summersweet

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions