Black Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
Also known as Crowberry, Crakeberry, Curlew-berry
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing evergreen groundcover with tiny pink or white flowers followed by glossy black berries in late summer. Extremely cold-hardy and ideal for alpine gardens, moorlands, and coastal regions.
Why grow it
Black crowberry offers superior cold and wind tolerance compared to most low-growing evergreen groundcovers, making it a practical choice for exposed alpine and subarctic sites where alternatives struggle. It provides year-round structure and late-season berry interest with minimal maintenance once established, though it spreads more slowly than some competitive groundcovers and prefers acidic soils.
Watch out for
Establishment can be slow in the first season, so site preparation with well-draining, acidic substrate and consistent moisture during initial growth improves success. It may thin or decline in warm, humid lowland climates where air circulation is poor, and can take several years to fill in densely as groundcover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Arctic and subarctic regions of Northern Hemisphere
Native to: Alaska, California, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing evergreen groundcover with tiny pink or white flowers followed by glossy black berries in late summer. Extremely cold-hardy and ideal for alpine gardens, moorlands, and coastal regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Black Crowberry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Black crowberry offers superior cold and wind tolerance compared to most low-growing evergreen groundcovers, making it a practical choice for exposed alpine and subarctic sites where alternatives struggle. It provides year-round structure and late-season berry interest with minimal maintenance once established, though it spreads more slowly than some competitive groundcovers and prefers acidic soils.
Watch out for
Establishment can be slow in the first season, so site preparation with well-draining, acidic substrate and consistent moisture during initial growth improves success. It may thin or decline in warm, humid lowland climates where air circulation is poor, and can take several years to fill in densely as groundcover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Arctic and subarctic regions of Northern Hemisphere
Native to: Alaska, California, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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