Highbush Cranberry

Highbush Cranberry grow in moist areas of North America's boreal forest. A large shrub - 8-15 ft high and almost as wide - they have large (2-4 in long), 3-lobed leaves that resemble maple leaves but are more wrinkled. The leaves are glossy green in summer turning red in the fall.

The flat, umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers can be seen from May to July. The clusters of red berry-like fruit ripen in late summer and have a musky odor. The fruit is an important food source for over-wintering birds as it is available all winter long.

Did you know? Highbush Cranberry belong to the Honeysuckle family (Twinberry Honeysuckle, Twining Honeysuckle) and are not actually a cranberry, unlike the true Lowbush Cranberry.

See Also: Wild Strawberry, Bearberry, Blackberry, Chokecherry, Elderberry, Huckleberry, Oregon Grape, Saskatoon Berry, Silver Buffaloberry, Snowberry, Thimbleberry

Easy - numerous and usually easy to spot in the habitats listed at the appropriate time of year.

Forests are large areas of trees growing close together.

Wetlands are low-lying areas that are covered by water all or most of the time and support a variety of aquatic plants. This habitat includes rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, bogs, and marshes.