Different Cranberry Varieties: A Guide To Common Types Of Cranberry Plants
For the unadventurous, cranberries may only exist in their canned form as a gelatinous gooey condiment destined to moisten dry turkeys. For the rest of us, cranberry season is looked forward to and celebrated from fall into winter. Yet, even cranberry devotees may not know much about this little berry, including different cranberry varieties because, yes indeed, there are several varieties of cranberry.
About Cranberry Plant Types
The cranberry plant type native to North America is called Vaccinium macrocarpon. A different type of cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccus, is native to countries in Europe. V. oxycoccus is a smaller speckled fruit, a tetraploid type of cranberry – which means that this kind of cranberry has twice as many chromosome sets as other kinds of cranberry, resulting in larger plants and flowers. C. oxycoccus will not hybridize with the diploid V. macrocarpon, thus research has been focused only on using the latter.
Different Varieties of Cranberry
There are more than 100 different cranberry plant types or cultivars that grow in North America and each new cultivar’s DNA is generally patented. New, faster growing cultivars from Rutgers ripen earlier and with better color, and, they have higher sugar contents than traditional cranberry varieties. Some of these varieties include:
- Crimson Queen
- Mullica Queen
- Demoranville
Other varieties of cranberry available from the Grygleski family include:
- GH1
- BG
- Pilgrim King
- Valley King
- Midnight Eight
- Crimson King
- Granite Red
In some regions of the United States, older cultivars of cranberry plants are still thriving over 100 years later.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Amy Grant has been gardening for 30 years and writing for 15. A professional chef and caterer, Amy's area of expertise is culinary gardening.
-
5 Low-Maintenance Plants & Shrubs That Don’t Need Pruning To Look Their Best
By Teo Spengler
-
6 Fall Lawn Care Tasks To Prioritize Before Winter – Plus When To Make The Last Cut
Use our guide to prepare your lawn for its winter slumber, and it will awaken in spring with lush, verdant grass you can be proud of.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Growing Cranberries From Cuttings: Tips For Rooting Cranberry Cuttings
Rooting cranberry cuttings may require some patience, but for the dedicated gardener, that's half the fun. Interested in trying your own cranberry cutting propagation? Find out how to root cranberry cuttings in this article. Click here for more info.
By Amy Grant
-
Preventing Cranberry Diseases: How To Treat A Sick Cranberry Plant
Cranberries are a quintessentially American fruit that not many people even realize they can grow at home. If you?re one of the lucky few who have cranberries in their garden, odds are you?re very protective of them. Learn how to treat a sick cranberry plant in this article.
By Liz Baessler
-
Cranberry Insect Pests: How To Treat Pests On Cranberries
Cranberries are wonderful fruits that not many people think they can grow at home. If you?re one of the lucky few with your very own cranberry vines, you might be devastated by the sudden invasion of insects. Learn more about cranberry pest management here.
By Liz Baessler
-
Cranberry Companion Plants: What To Grow Near Cranberries
Whenever you decide to plant anything, you should learn about the plants that are companions to it in order to maximize your plants? performance. This is exactly what I did with my cranberry plants. Click here to learn more about plants that grow well with cranberries.
By Shelley Pierce
-
Problems With Cranberries: Common Fixing Cranberry Diseases And Pests
If you?re looking for an unusual addition to your garden this year, cranberries are where it?s at. But before you dive into the bog head first, make sure you read up on some of the most common problems that can affect this sweet tart of a crop. This article will help.
By Kristi Waterworth
-
Potted Cranberry Plants – Tips On Growing Cranberries In Containers
Berry producing plants like cranberries are now being added to multi-functional container designs. You may be thinking: hold on a minute, potted cranberry plants? Don't cranberries grow in large bogs? In this article, we will discuss growing cranberries in containers.
By Darcy Larum
-
Cranberry Propagation Tips: How To Propagate Cranberries In The Garden
Have you ever wondered how to propagate cranberries? If you, too, are interested in cranberry propagation, click on the following article to find out useful information on reproducing cranberries. Learn more here.
By Amy Grant
-
Cranberry Winter Protection: A Guide To Cranberry Winter Care
What happens to cranberries in winter? Cranberries go semi-dormant in their bogs during the cold months of winter. In order to protect plants from the cold and possible heaving, growers typically flood the bogs. Learn more here on cranberry winter protection.
By Bonnie L. Grant