The name of this species is sometimes spelt Vaccinium oxycoccus, but the original spelling was Vaccinium oxycoccos and this is the form that should be used(International Plant Names Index)

Common Name: Small Cranberry

General Information

Vaccinium oxycoccos is an evergreen shrub producing sparsely-branched, long, thin, wiry, more or less procumbent stems with erect to ascending branches 1 - 15cm tall. The plant grows from a rhizomatous rootstock with rhizomes up to 80cm long, forming in time a mat of growth[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes harvested in large quantities that can be sold commercially[]. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Europe - Norway to France, east to European Russia, Balkans; E. Asia - Siberia to China, Japan, Korea; N. America- Far North to California, Maryland

Habitat

Acid boggy land[]. Half buried in Sphagnum hummocks in bogs, fens, muskeg, arctic-alpine tundra; at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.10 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist or wet 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[].
The fruit often persists on the plant all winter without rotting[].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[].
Although the top growth is usually killed, plants generally survive fires and resprout freely from the roots afterwards[]. Traditionally, areas of Vaccinium oxycoccus growth were burned on an annual basis by native peoples - this encouraged the regrowth of the plant whilst also killing off various competitors, thus improving overall fruit yields[].
Plants are self-fertile, but fruit production is improved if cross-pollination also takes place[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

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[]. An acid taste, the fruits are usually cooked in preserves etc[, ]. Although smaller than the related Vaccinium macrocarpon, the fruit of this species is considered to be of superior taste[]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[]. Berries deep red, red-spotted at first, 6-12 mm diam., smooth[].
A tea is made from the leaves[, ].

Medicinal

An infusion of the plant has been used to treat cases of slight nausea[].

The fruit is antiseptic, antitumor, diuretic and febrifuge. It is taken, especially as a juice, for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections, neurogenic bladder, as a urinary deodorizer for people with incontinence, prevention of urinary catheter blockage, and to heal skin around urostomy stomas. It is also used for treating type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, scurvy and pleurisy[].

Cranberry fruits contain anthocyanidins, ellagitannins, flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol, catechins, and phenolic acids. Other constituents include ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, glutathione, and alpha-tocopherol[].
Cranberry juice is acidic, but does not acidify the urine as previously thought[].
Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, also known as condensed tannins, and a high-molecular weight compound that has not yet been identified. These constituents seem to interfere with bacterial adherence to the urinary tract epithelial cells. Cranberry, however, does not seem to have the ability to release bacteria which are already adhered to the urinary tract epithelial cells[].
Laboratory evidence suggests that fructose in cranberries might also contribute to the anti-infective activity[].
Cranberry juice has shown antibacterial activity in culture medium against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis[].
Preliminary data suggest that a high molecular weight cranberry constituent might prevent adhesion of plaque bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Cranberry compounds might also prevent adhesion of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the stomach[].
Early evidence shows that cranberry juice might increase the antioxidant capacity of plasma[].
There is also preliminary evidence that the proanthocyanidin fraction of cranberry might have anticarcinogenic activity[].
Cranberry, as well as many other fruits and vegetables, contains significant amounts of salicylic acid, which is the active metabolite of aspirin and has anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and antitumor effects. Cranberry juice contains about 7 mg of salicylic acid per litre. Drinking three 250 mL servings of cranberry juice daily for two weeks increases serum salicylate levels. It also increases excretion of salicylic and salicyluric acids (a salicylic acid metabolite) in the urine[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way[]. Plants rapidly form a dense carpet when they are thriving[].
The plant is classified as an indicator of moist to very wet, nitrogen-poor soils and high surface groundwater[]. It is also an indicator of coniferous swamps[].

Other Uses

The juice of the fruit is used to clean silver[].

A red dye is obtained from the fruit[].

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[].