Vaccinium erythrocarpum is treated here in a narrow sense. Some treatments, including the Flora of N. America[], include Vaccinium japonicum here as a subspecies of Vaccinium erythrocarpum (as Vaccinium erythrocarpum japonicum (Miq.) Kloet). This treatment is not universally accepted - the Flora of China[], for example, treats the two species as distinct. We are maintaining the two taxons as distinct for the present (2016)[].

Common Name: Southern Mountain Cranberry

General Information

Vaccinium erythrocarpum is a deciduous shrub usually growing 60 - 150cm tall, occasionally to 300cm. It sometimes produces suckers if injured[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-eastern N. America - West Virginia, south to Tennessee and Georgia

Habitat

Thickets, rocky woods, slopes and summits[]. Wooded slopes, subalpine shrub lands, boggy areas, rocky slopes and thickets; at elevations from 600 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[, ]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[]. Requires shelter from strong winds[].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[].
This plant has been recommended for improvement by cultivation for its edible fruit[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked and used in jellies etc[]. Usually insipid, rarely sweet or tart[]. The transparent scarlet berries have an excellent flavour[]. Somewhat sour according to one report[] whilst another says that they can be insipid or sweetish[]. The red to purplish-black berries are around 6mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[]. Takes 18 months[].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[].