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Southern Mountain Cranberry

Vaccinium erythrocarpum

Found in rocky ridges, shrub or grassy balds, bogs, spruce-fir forests, usually at high elevations. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

98
Keystone

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
Up to about 5 feet
Light
Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to wet
Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
May to July
Fruiting season
August to September

Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 5 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Mountain balds

Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.

Spruce-fir forests

Cool, evergreen forests of red spruce and Fraser fir on the highest mountains.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 110 animals.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

222CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Vaccinium

  • Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
  • Abagrotis brunneipennisYankee Dart
  • Abagrotis cupidaCupid Dart
  • Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
  • Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
  • Acleris curvalanaBlueberry Leaftier Moth
  • Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
  • Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
  • Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Show all 222
  • Acronicta dolliDoll's Dagger
  • Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
  • Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
  • Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
  • Acronicta tritonaGray Dagger, Triton Dagger
  • Agnorisma bugraiCollared Dart
  • Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
  • Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
  • Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anagrapha falciferaCelery Looper Moth
  • Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
  • Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
  • Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
  • Aplectoides conditaX
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
  • Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
  • Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Aroga trialbamaculellaRed-Striped Fireworm Moth
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Brachionycha borealisBoreal Sprawler, Boreal Fan Moth
  • Cabera erythemariaYellow-Dusted Cream Moth
  • Caenurgina erechteaClover Looper Moth, Common Grass Moth, Forage Looper
  • Callophrys henriciHenry's Elfin
  • Caloptilia belfragellaDogwood Caloptilia
  • Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
  • Catocala andromedaeAndromeda Underwing
  • Catocala gracilisGraceful Underwing
  • Catocala sordidaSordid Underwing
  • Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
  • Celastrina luciaLucia Azure
  • Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
  • Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
  • Cerastis fishiiFish's Dart
  • Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
  • Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
  • Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Chrysanympha formosaFormosa Looper Moth, Beautiful Looper
  • Chrysoteuchia topiariusCranberry Girder, Subterranean Webworm, Topiary Grass-Veneer
  • Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Colias interiorPink-Edged Sulphur
  • Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
  • Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
  • Darapsa choerilusAzalea Sphinx
  • Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
  • Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
  • Datana drexeliiDrexel's Datana
  • Datana majorMajor Datana, Azalea Caterpillar
  • Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
  • Diarsia rubiferaRed Dart
  • Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
  • Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
  • Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
  • Elaphria grataGrateful Midget
  • Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume Moth
  • Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
  • Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
  • Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena madusariaScrub Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
  • Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
  • Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
  • Eueretagrotis attentusAttentive Dart
  • Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
  • Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
  • Eulithis explanataWhite Eulithis
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
  • Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
  • Eurois occultaGreat Grey Dart, Great Brocade
  • Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
  • Euxoa detersaRubbed Dart, Sandhill Cutworm
  • Euxoa redimiculaFillet Dart
  • Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
  • Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
  • Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
  • Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
  • Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
  • Hemaris diffinisSnowberry Clearwing
  • Hemaris gracilisSlender Clearwing
  • Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
  • Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
  • Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
  • Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
  • Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
  • Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Limenitis archippusViceroy
  • Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
  • Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
  • Lithomoia germanaAmerican Brindle
  • Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
  • Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
  • Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
  • Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
  • Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
  • Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
  • Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
  • Macaria argillaceariaMousy Angle
  • Macaria evagariaDrab Angle
  • Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
  • Macrochilo orciferalisStreaked Fan-Foot, Bronzy Macrochilo
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
  • Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Melanomma auricinctariaGold-Lined Melanomma
  • Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis hypochrariaCommon Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis obfirmariaYellow-Washed Metarranthis
  • Metaxaglaea inultaUnsalted Sallow, Viburnum Sallow
  • Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
  • Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
  • Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
  • Morrisonia evictaBicolored Woodgrain
  • Morrisonia mucensGray Woodgrain
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
  • Olethreutes lacunanomLacuna Moth
  • Olethreutes permundanaRaspberry Leafroller
  • Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Orthodes detractaDisparaged Arches, Disparaged Groundcat
  • Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
  • Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
  • Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
  • Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Pangrapta decoralisDecorated Owlet
  • Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
  • Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
  • Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
  • Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
  • Phalaenostola metonalisPale Epidelta, Pale Phalaenostola
  • Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
  • Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
  • Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
  • Polia purpurissataPurple Arches
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
  • Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
  • Protolampra brunneicollisBrown-Collared Dart
  • Pseudohermonassa bicarneaPink-Spotted Dart
  • Pyrgus centaureaeGrizzled Skipper
  • Rheumaptera hastataSpear-Marked Black Moth, Spear Mark
  • Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
  • Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
  • Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
  • Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
  • Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
  • Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
  • Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
  • Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
  • Sutyna privataCheckered Sallow, Private Sallow
  • Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
  • Tharsalea epixantheBog Copper
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
  • Venusia cambricaThe Welsh Wave
  • Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
  • Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
  • Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
  • Xestia dilucidaDull Reddish Dart, Reddish Heath Dart
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
  • Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
  • Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
  • Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
  • Zale aeruginosaGreen-Dusted Zale
  • Zomaria interruptolineanaBroken-Lined Zomaria
  • Aroga argutiola
  • Dichomeris vacciniella
  • Hyppa contrasta
  • Pseudexentera vaccinii
  • Rhopobota finitimana
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
52BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Vaccinium

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
8Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Vaccinium

  • Andrena bradleyi
  • Andrena carolina
  • Colletes ultravalidus
  • Colletes validus
  • Melitta americana
  • Melitta eickworti
  • Osmia virga
  • Panurginus atramontensis
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
22BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Vaccinium

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
  • Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
  • Catharus fuscescensVeery
  • Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
  • Contopus virensEastern Wood-Pewee
  • Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
  • Empidonax flaviventrisYellow-bellied Flycatcher
  • Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
  • Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
Show all 22
  • Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
  • Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
  • Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
  • Spizelloides arboreaAmerican Tree Sparrow
  • Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
  • Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
  • Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ericaceae
Flower color
White, red or pink
Fruit begins
August
Fruit ends
September

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Bearberry; Highbush Cranberry

Conservation status

West Virginia rankS4
Global rankG5
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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