If you’ve walked Acadia’s Woodland Trails in the winter you’ve likely noticed the striking red berries of the Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus). This tall shrub is a cranberry only in name. It’s not a member of the Heath family like our true native cranberries; it belongs to the Honeysuckle family.
Highbush cranberry is a great native shrub to plant in home gardens. The clusters of red berries provide food for birds in the fall and winter and the large white blossoms attract butterflies in the summer. Take a hike on the Woodland Trails and see if you can spot the red berries. Hint: look near the Norway Spruce Forest!
The Trails are available for hiking all year. The largest loop takes approximately 45 minutes. There are also two shorter loops. Maps are available at the front desk of the KC Irving Centre. Remember, it’s a hike in the woods, so please pack it in, pack it out, and use caution as trails can be slippery in winter.
Melanie Priesnitz, Conservation Horticulturist
Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens
Acadia University, Wolfville
botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca
