small-fruited cranberry

plant

Also known as: Vaccinium oxycoccos, northern cranberry

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The small-fruited cranberry, also known as the northern cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), is a trailing plant with wiry stems and small, evergreen leaves. It produces tart, edible red berries that are typically about 1/4 to 1/3 inch in diameter and often spotted. These berries ripen in September and have an acidic taste. The plant is found in marshy areas across the northern hemisphere, including North America, Asia, and Europe. While the American cranberry (V. macrocarpon) is more commercially significant, the small-fruited variety is of local importance.12

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cranberry
Major species
The small-fruited, or northern, cranberry (V. oxycoccos) is found in marshy land in northern North America and Asia and in northern and central Europe and is of local importance.
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The small-fruited, or northern, cranberry (V. oxycoccos) is found in marshy land in northern North America and Asia and in northern and central Europe and is of local importance.
Read More