Caution:  Large quantities of the fruit can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The fruit is of very low or zero toxicity, it only causes mild upset when eaten unripe or in large quantities.

Range: Newfoundland to British Columbia, New Jersey, Michigan, Iowa, South Dakota and Oregon.

Habitat:  Stream banks. Low moist ground.

Description:  A large attractive native shrub that is often found in the wild in bogs. They are showy in spring for their large 4-5" clusters of small white flowers. In late summer the fruit turn bright red and remain on throughout the winter or until harvested by birds. In the fall the leaves become scarlet.  The creamy-white flowers, which appear in late May and early June, measure 3 to 4 inches across. Each bloom is composed of an outer ring of large sterile flowers and an inner ring of tiny fertile ones. The fruit, low growing shrubs. Full growth of the shrub requires 5 to 10 years. 

It is an attractive flowering landscape plant for use in odd areas or in group plantings around homes and farm ponds. The fruit is a bright red which increases its ornamental value. Combined, its characteristics make it useful as a dual purpose food plant and ornamental.

Wildlife: High Bush Cranberry  is a good wildlife food and cover plant for small mammals and birds.  Twigs are eaten by deer, moose and beaver. Fruits are  a staple winter food for ruffed grouse and are eaten  sparingly by pheasants and at least five species of  songbirds. 

Medicine:  Emetic; Febrifuge; Laxative; Stomachic; Women's complaints.

A decoction has been given to babies with fevers.  A decoction of the branches has been used to treat a fallen womb after birth and the Chippewa used an infusion of roots for prolapse of the uterus.  An infusion of the inner bark has been used to treat stomach cramps.

The bark is laxative. An infusion of the roots has been used to make a person vomit in the treatment of bad blood and fevers.

Historic Reference:

"For richness of flavour, and for beauty of appearance, I admire the high-bush cranberries; these are little sought after, on account of the large flat seed, which prevent them being used as jam: the jelly, however, is delightful, both in colour and flavour...The berries...when just touched by the frosts are semi-transparent, and look like pendant bunches of scarlet grapes...I was tempted on fine frosty afternoon to take a walk with my husband on the ice...recognised..high-bush cranberries..stripped the boughs..hastened home, and boiled the fruit with some sugar to eat at tea with our cakes.  I never ate anything more delicious than they proved; the more so perhaps from having been so long without tasting fruit of any kind."  1836 Trail Backwoods Canada

"The name, however, by which it is known amoung the Indians of Red River is 'anepeminan,' from 'nepen,' summer, and minan', berry.  This has been corrupted by the fur traders and voyageurs into 'Pembina':  hence the name of a river which runs into the Red and also the name of the celebrated but unsuccessful settlement of 'Pembina' formed by Lord Selkirk many years ago."  1853 Reid

"Pembina.  A canadian name for the acid fruit of Viburnum opulus, the high-bush cranberry...The word is a corruption of Cree nipiminan, 'watered-berry' i.e. fruit of a plant growing in, or laved by, water."  1913 Hodge & White

"High -bush cranberries...are steeped and drunk for swollen glands and mumps. (Also a Malecite remedy)."  1915 Speck PENOBSCOT

"Plant is boiled and the mess rubbed in the eyes for sore eyes."  1915 Speck MONTAGNAIS

Cramps in the legs...make a strong tea of cranberry bush bark.  Drink a third of a cupful, will stop cramps in 20 minutes.  Best to take it nigh and morning for several weeks, the trouble seldom returns.  Also bark of root of black haw, V. prunifolium.  1925 Wood & Ruddock.

"These are rather scarce on the Menomini reservation, but are favored as a fruit whenever they can be found."  1923 H. Smith MENOMINI

"The Pillager Ojibwe used the inner bark as a physic, and also drank the tea to cure cramps in the stomach.  1932 H. Smith  OJIBWE