The Mistaken Cranberry
The plant I sold for a long time as cranberry is actually not a real cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpum), it is the little cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos). I bought it from a very reputable source, but botany is a tricky and traps are plenty.
I’m not sure if the true cranberry is even available in Australia. Interestingly, even though this isn’t the “correct” cranberry, it may actually be a bit more useful in warmer areas because it seems to need less winter chill to set fruit. And indeed my plant did flower in our warm coastal climate! For a prolific crop though, a colder climate would be an advantage. (And sorry for the picture, it’s bad but it’s the only one I have!)
If you want the small-cousin-cranberry, it’s sometimes available here:
Tell the Real Thanksgiving Cranberry Apart from Its Little Cousin
Here is how to tell the two species apart. Vaccinium oxycoccos is the little cranberry, the real one Americans eat at Thanksgiving is Vaccinium macrocarpon. Maybe you do have the real thing?
| Feature | Vaccinium oxycoccos | Vaccinium macrocarpon |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf arrangement | Often opposite or sub-opposite | Alternate along the stem |
| Leaf size | Small: ~5–10 mm long × 3–4 mm wide | Larger: 10–25 mm long × 5–12 mm wide |
| Leaf shape | Blunt-tipped, narrow oval | Elongated oval, slightly pointed tip |
| Plant habit | Low-growing, creeping, forms mats | Creeping, trailing runners, slightly taller |
| Flowers | Small, bell-shaped, pinkish-white | Bell-shaped, pinkish-white, usually larger |
| Fruit | Tiny, bright red, ~5–8 mm | Larger, bright red, ~10–18 mm |
Both Are Medicinal and Edible – What Are the Differences in Use?
While the uses of both plants do overlap, there are some clear differences. I’ve tasted the small cranberry raw a couple of times, and yes, it is edible. That said, it’s probably much better cooked, but I’ve never had enough fruit at once to really try it. The true cranberry doesn’t taste very nice straight off the bush either, but it produces much larger fruit and is said to taste quite good once processed or cooked.
The main medicinal use of both plants is for urinary tract health, especially urinary tract infections. Modern clinical studies suggest that the American cranberry is more effective for this purpose. In both species, the fruit is generally preferred for medicinal use, but the leaves are also traditionally used to make a mild herbal tea.
| Plant Part | Vaccinium oxycoccos | Vaccinium macrocarpon |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit | Traditional urinary tonic; mild diuretic; eaten fresh or preserved | Clinically supported for urinary tract health (prevents UTIs); rich in A-type proanthocyanidins; eaten fresh, juice, or capsules |
| Leaves | Used as tea for urinary tonic and mild antiemetic; traditional European herbal use | Used as tea for mild urinary support and diuretic effect; fruit preferred for modern medicinal use |
Notes for the Notorious Plant Collector:
Collecting plants is addictive and there are some vacciniums that would be so much better for our climate! Is any of the following plants in growing somewhere in Australia?
- Vaccinium cylindraceum from Africa (UDSA 9-11)
- Vaccinium modestum from E. Asia – China to the Himalayas. (USDA 7-10)
- Vaccinium neglectum from South-eastern N. America – Pennsylvania to Missouri, south to Alabama and Georgia (USDA 8-11)
- Vaccinium padifolium from Madeira (USDA 8-11)
