No images found for this plant ID: 16187.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "16187" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
purple crowberry
Scientific Name: Empetrum eamesii
Family: Empetraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: MN (purple crowberry)
Crowberry (Empetrum)
Crowberry is a genus of small, dwarf evergreen shrubs known for bearing edible fruit. Several species and subspecies exist, exhibiting variations in berry color and growth habit.
Considerations for Pets
- Crowberry has needle-like leaves.
- The plant produces berries that start green and can turn pink, purple, or black.
Considerations for Children
- Crowberry has needle-like leaves.
- The plant produces berries that start green and can turn pink, purple, or black.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Empetrum
- Family: Empetraceae (Crowberry Family) or Heather Family – Ericaceae (formerly Crowberry)
- Species Examples:
- Empetrum nigrum (crowberry or black crowberry)
- Empetrum eamesii (rockberry or purple crowberry)
- Empetrum rubrum (red crowberry)
- Subspecies Examples:
- E. nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum
- E. eamesii ssp. atropurpureum (purple crowberry)
- Synonyms/Alternative Names:
- Purple Crowberry: Empetrum atropurpureum
- Other Common Names: rockberry, black crowberry, mossberry, curlewberry, crakeberry.
Distribution and Habitat
- Crowberry is a denizen of boreal habitats.
- In New England, it inhabits mountaintops.
- Found across British Columbia (BC) from sea level to alpine regions.
- Specific locations include St. John's, Newfoundland, and Nagles Hill.
Morphological Characteristics
- Dwarf evergreen shrubs, typically 10-30 cm tall, though Empetrum eamesii grows to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
- Needle-like leaves.
- Mat-forming shrub.
- Tiny purple starry flowers. The tiny, inconspicuous purple flowers (3 mm long) form groups of 2-3 along the stem between the needle like leaves.
- Fruit color can be black, red, or purple, and the fruit is round.
- Dioecious plant, meaning each shrub produces either male or female flowers.
Quirky Facts
- Purple crowberry was only first recognized to be present in New York State in 1990, having been previously overlooked or misidentified.
- Inuit Tea can be made from crowberry.
- Crowberry is one of the earliest flowering native species in some areas.
Ecological Role
- Crowberry provides a mild flavor and bluish-purple color when added to food.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Known Pests and Problems for Purple Crowberry Empetrum eamesii.
Further Information
- Discover Life has a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Empetrum eamesii.
- Taxonomic information available from the British Database of World Flora and Fauna.
- Dave's Garden provides tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
- Wildflowers Count tracks crowberry as one of its species.