The American cranberrybush is known for its maple-like foliage and reddish-brown branches & stems. Jlpoole2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Native to northern North America
The American cranberrybush is an attractive deciduous shrub. Despite its common name, it isn’t actually a type of cranberry tree. A member of the moschatel family (Adoxaceae), it is distinguished by cranberry-like fruits, maple-like foliage, and reddish-brown branches and stems. Its white blooms are produced in corymb-type inflorescences, with the outermost flowers being larger than the innermost ones.
In the wild, this shrub favors cool and consistently moist habitats. Its mature specimens can tolerate wet conditions along the edges of thickets, ditches, swamps, streambanks, and bogs. It is frequently found in relatively pristine wetland systems, where it serves as a vital species for winged pollinators (e.g. syrphid flies, andrenid bees, halictid bees, beetles). The red fruits support the survival of many native birds through winter.
V. trilobum typically grows to about 13 feet (4 meters) tall in optimal conditions. It should be cultivated close to a consistent source of water. Its roots thrive best in substrates with a rich organic matter profile, whereas its foliage requires full to partial sun conditions to produce the necessary compounds for rapid growth." (Pond Informer (Abi), 11 Shrubs & Bushes That Like Wet Soil 2022 [Updated])
