Small Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)

Family: Ericaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Vaccinium oxycoccos is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

pleasantly-flavoured of British wild fruits. — Fruit - raw or cooked.; Considered by some to be the most pleasantly-flavoured of British wild fruits.; The fruit is high in pectin, this means that it can be mixed with fruits that are low in pectin to help them set when making jam.; Pectin has also been shown to have a valuable role in the diet, where it is said to protect the body against radiation.

Habitat & North American Range

Acid boggy land. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)