Fertilize before new growth begins in spring. Wait until the buds begin to sprout, so you can easily see any dead wood. Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. Drooping bundles of edible, radiant red, cranberry-like berries (drupes) appear in fall. Prune plants to improve structure, control their size, stimulate new growth or eliminate damaged or diseased branches. Dead branches should be removed close to the trunk, flush with the bark. Avoid pruning after August first. American cranberries grow and produce just fine without pruning, but they grow into massive plants. For a tidy, neat appearance, shear annually to shape.Pruning time: late winter or early spring. You can keep them smaller by pruning in spring after the flowers fade. Does not flower or fruit at a young age and only lightly thereafter. Pruning buds destroys the flowers. Hardy to -50°F Maximum Elevation: 7,000 ft. The American cranberry bush viburnum is a multistemmed shrub that grows about 8 to 12 feet tall and wide. Feb. 17, 2021 Prune yours to keep its size and shape under control. Prune an American cranberrybush just before the buds swell in late winter or early spring, or wait to prune it immediately after flowering. Prune misshapen branches and thin out crowded areas. Plus, watch past webinars on demand Flower clusters are creamy-white and appear in May. Your American Cranberry Viburnum will benefit from regular pruning each spring, especially if grown in a more formal garden setting. Begin by removing all dead shoots and old berry clusters. In spring, this densely branched, deciduous shrub produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by an outer ring of larger sterile florets. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The Hahs Viburnum is the best compact viburnum available. Privacy Policy  | Fall color is a deep purple! Webinar If reasonable, we leave a few stems or suckers growing from the removed canes. How to prune viburnum really depends on what you want to accomplish with a plant. Pruning Instructions. Highbush Cranberry, also known as American Cranberry, is grown for its bright red berries that can be used to make jellies and sauces. Prefers well-drained to moist soil in full sun or part shade.Adaptable to soil pH.Flowers on old wood, prune after flowering.Moderate tolerance of aerial salt spray. Major pruning can be done in late winter before growth begins or after flowering in spring. How to Prune Viburnum Trilobum 1. Viburnums are well-behaved me… Jan. 13, 2021 Discovered at Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota by Pat Perkins. Pruning. Dormant pruning is best for the plant, while pruning after flowering allows you to enjoy the spring floral display before doing the needed pruning. Examine the shrub to gauge whether or not if it is overgrown and to look for the oldest, most unproductive canes. Rather than cutting back the entire bush, … Common name: American cranberrybush Botanical name:Viburnum opulus var. Houseplants - Tips for Success Should I prune my dwarf cranberrybush viburnum? When is a good time to prune it? Viburnum trilobum vy-BURN-um try-LOW-bum Audio This deciduous, rounded shrub grows to 15 feet tall with maple-like, lobed, dark green leaves that turn shades of red, yellow, and purple in autumn. She has also written for various online publications. Viburnum trilobum 'Bailey Compact' vy-BURN-um try-LOW-bum Audio This low-key shrub is perfect for the back of a border, where its dense form will create a backdrop for showier summer plants. The proper time to prune these shrubs for size control is immediately after blooming occurs, usually mid- to late May in this area. I have a 3 yr. old Bailey Compact Viburnum which has not bloomed nor set fruit yet. Select has showy red foliage and neat dense habit. Viburnum pruning is not an annual task, unless you’re growing a young plant that you’re pruning to a tree shape. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. American highbush cranberry. Viburnum – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. Examine the shrub to gauge whether or not if it is overgrown and to look for the oldest, most unproductive canes. 1 Response.  Register today Viburnum trilobum -- commonly called American cranberrybush -- is one of those shrubs that has it all. In many cases, pruning just after flowering but before the setting of seedpods is sufficient. Viburnums have long been one of our most popular flowering landscape shrubs, with more than 150 species available. White flower clusters appear mid to late May and are extremely handsome. Viburnum trilobum 'Compactum' Characteristics. Calyx. You do not need to wait to do this type of pruning. J.N. This compact form of American cranberrybush was discovered by Pat Perkins at Bailey Nurseries. The foliage emerges a nice coppery color and ages to a deep green. Growing Herbs Indoors Pruning viburnum trilobum. This enables the shrub … Shape and thin as needed but, keep in mind that you are removing this autumn’s fruit. It does not show strong fall color. Viburnum is best grown in a medium, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. These shrubs should be pruned after they have bloomed. Clusters of small, bright red fruits remain colourful all winter. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Viburnum opulus var. Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. With varieties suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2 to 9, you can find a variety to suit any garden need: wet or dry, sun or shade, natural or formal, shrub or tree, native or exotic. Asked October 25, 2016, 9:39 PM EDT. Make sharp, clean cuts rather than tearing the wood. If the stems are diseased or are insect-infested, bag them up and discard. Viburnum trilobum (cranberrybush viburnum, American cranberrybush, high bush cranberry, or highbush cranberry) is a species of Viburnum native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to British Columbia, south to Washington state and east to northern Virginia. Missouri Botanical Garden: Viburnum Opulus var. Quick Links: FAQs || Plant Description || Insect PestsSome Other Common Names: American cranberrybush, guelder rose, dog rowan, *European cranberry tree, marsh alder, rose elder, red elder, water elder, dog elder, gatten tree, whitten tree, ople tree, snowball tree, crampbark The group of outer floral leaves (sepals) below the petals, occasionally forming a tube. Formerly called Compact American cranberrybush, this hardy shrub has beautiful foliage that offers a slight red edge when new, then turns a deep red in fall. Feb. 24, 2021 Jan. 20, 2021 When to Prune Viburnum. Register today Do not prune more than one-third of the bush at this time. Try not to prune out more than one-third of the bush at this time, choosing the oldest branches when you do. Pruning may be needed to remove dead branches, encourage bushier growth, promote more flowers, or maintain a specific size or shape. Generally, this means cutting the entire shrub to near ground level, leaving a stub about two inches above grade. Site Map, Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Vines & Groundcovers, Three-cut method for Pruning Large Tree Branches, Maintain Pruning Tools Throughout the Season, Select the Best Pruning Tool for the Task, Root Prune Instead of Moving Indoor Houseplants to a Larger Pot. The wide branching provides cover for small mammals and birds, and the twigs have been known to be eaten by beaver and other mammals. When pruning to control a plant's size or shape, cuts should be made just above a leaf bud and at a slight angle. Growing Edibles Indoors Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. If so, when? Cyme. Webinar Its foliage and flowers are attractive, and it produces edible fruit that people actually eat. Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum OR Viburnum opulus var. When American cranberrybush is left unpruned, it can reach up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. You can prune more branches the next year. until 12/31/20. Dwarf American Cranberry Growing and Maintenance Tips. American cranberrybush makes an excellent specimen plant, and several can be grown as an effective hedge. What would be the best method to encourage the shrub to bloom, set fruit and show good fall leaf color? The lush, dark green leaves turn a bright red color in the fall. americanum is this plant’s current scientific name, but it was formerly known as and is still often called Viburnum trilobum by nurseries and garden references. Avoid pruning after August first. Remove broken, insect-infested or diseased branches back to the parent stems. This can stimulate late season growth that is subject to winter injury. americanum ‘Redwing’ Flowers: Throughout April and May, little lacecap white flowers bloom in a clustered circle with larger, showier flowers lining each circle of smaller flowers in the center. The flowers are produced on the current season’s growth, so Highbush Cranberries should be pruned in early spring before new growth appears. Prune them back flush to base of the shrub. Prune branches back to the base of the shrub or to the stems from where they originate. Beautiful green lobed foliage turns a deep red in the fall. Now there is room for new, productive branches to grow. American cranberrybush viburnum. Viburnum, includes Highbush Cranberry (Opulus and Sub S. Triloba), Nannyberry, Blackhaw, Doublefile, Korean Spice, Juddi, Arrowwood and Wayfaring Tree. Low Maintenance Gardening Full Sun. Prune out broken, dead or diseased limbs with the proper pruning tool. Viburnum trilobum 'Bailey Compact' An excellent compact, rounded form of American cranberry growing 5-6' tall and wide.