Cranberry is a perennial grown for its fruit, ready to harvest about three years after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 7, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
2-7
pH Range
4.5-6
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~3 yr
Score Cranberry on your exact land.
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What Cranberry is
Cranberry grows as a perennial and reaches around 6 inches at maturity. It blooms pink in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Cranberry
Cranberry grows in USDA zones 2 through 7 and is ready to harvest about three years after planting. Cranberry does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 6, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 100 frost-free days, and about 1000 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 6
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~3 years
Cranberry. ~3-4 yr from rooted cuttings to fill an established bed; commercial bog establishment longer.
UMass-Veg; WSU-TFREC
GDD Required
1500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
0.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant cranberry in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Cranberry prefers pH 4.5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Cranberry is ready about three years after planting (UMass-Veg; WSU-TFREC). Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — cranberry isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Cranberry is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Cranberry thrives
Cranberry is hardy across USDA zones 2 through 7. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–7·Where Cranberry growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cranberry can grow in these states:
See if Cranberry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cranberry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Cranberry in my zone?
Cranberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Cranberry take to grow?
Cranberry is ready to harvest about three years after planting (UMass-Veg; WSU-TFREC). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Cranberry?
Most growers plant cranberry after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 100-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Cranberry need?
Cranberry needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Cranberry need?
Cranberry prefers soil pH 4.5 to 6, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cranberry attract pollinators?
Yes — cranberry's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Cranberry safe for pets?
Cranberry is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.