Growing highbush cranberry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Crops better with a second plant of the same species.
Growing it
Zones 2-7. A viburnum, not a true cranberry. Tart red fruit after frost for jelly; make sure you have the edible American species, not the near-tasteless European one.
Where highbush cranberry grows best
Hardy in zones 2-7, and it needs enough winter cold - about 800-1400 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Highbush Cranberry needs roughly 800–1400 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does highbush cranberry grow in?
Highbush Cranberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 2-7.
How many chill hours does highbush cranberry need?
Roughly 800-1400 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does highbush cranberry need a pollinator?
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner. Crops better with a second plant of the same species.
Which states can grow highbush cranberry?
Highbush Cranberry suits most of Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland and 22 more, and parts of 14 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.