Lingonberry & Cranberry
LINGONBERRYPearl--(Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) is a woody, evergreen shrub, native to north-temperate regions in Eurasia and North America. It requires leached soils, with a low base saturation, low lime content, a low level of available nutrients, with at-least a 2% organic matter content. Most of these soils have a pH of 4.5 to 5.0 Peat, leaf mulch and pine bark mulch are good mulch materials for lingonberries. These berries require very little, if any, fertilizer but may respond to magnesium if the soil test is low. They require water in the amount of 1" per week during the growing season. During a dry period, water needs to be applied by drip or overhead irrigation. These plants have the same requirements as blueberries and grow where blueberries grow well.
The leaves of lingonberry are bright green the year around. It blooms with white flowers in May and again in late July and August. The fruit ripens in 2 crops: July and August, and then in September and October. The fruit is bright red with a slight acid flavor which cooks up into a very tasty sauce. An 8 oz. jar of lingonberry sauce produced in Europe usually sells for $6.00 or more in the USA. Full sunlight produces the heaviest crops while partial shade increases the number of shoots. Lingonberry grows very much like the lowbush blueberry in that it grows only 6-8" high and spreads by rhizomes to form a mat. It has been used as a landscape plant in Europe for many years. It is attractive all year long as a green border of ground cover. Spacing for Lingonberries is 18" apart.
CRANBERRY
Stevens--Most everyone is familiar with the fruit of Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry), a popular component of holiday dinners. But what most people aren't aware of is this plant's potential as an attractive ground cover. An evergreen shrub, American cranberry is native to many parts of Canada, Alaska and the northern tier of the US. However, it can be grown as far south as Virginia and North Carolina, as well as west to Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
At home in a wide range of zones as far north as Zone 2 (-45° to -50°), this plant has dark green leaves, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long closely spaced on the stems. In winter, the narrow leaves turn slightly reddish. It grows into a solid mat about 8 to 10 inches high when spaced one plant per square foot. This is because of the plant's runners or stolons, which are up to 3 ft. long and root at their nodes. Upright-growing branches produce unusual whitish flowers which produce glossy red fruit. The flowering period is from early June through July, the fruit ripens in early fall. American cranberry needs acid soils, which range from pure and to peat. A widely held misconception is that they must grow in bogs. Because American cranberry can tolerate flooding, especially during the dormant season, landscapers can situate plants in wetland soils, although this is not necessary.
The plants winter well above ground in Indiana with only snow cover as protection. We recommend adding mulch. It is also advisable to water plants during dry spells, as they are shallow-rooted. Full sun is recommended for optimum growth, but they will tolerate some shade.
The American cranberry can be used as an ornamental plant--an alternative to the over used evergreen. In addition, it is a native plant that will fit into wetland programs! Spacing is 20" apart.
| LINGONBERRY | ||
| 2-1/2 Inch Potted Plants | ||
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1 to 4
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5 to 9
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10 +
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$6.30 ea.
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$6.00 ea.
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$5.55 ea.
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| CRANBERRY | ||
| 1 Year Rooted Cuttings | ||
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1 to 4
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5 to 9
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10 +
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$5.75 ea.
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$5.50 ea.
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$5.25 ea.
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To order call Toll Free:
1-800-295-2226