Purple Crowberry (Empetrum atropurpureum)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Empetraceae
Genus: Empetrum
Life cycle: perennial
Foliage: evergreen
Woodiness: woody
Height: 0.2 m
Fertility: self sterile
Flower type: dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked^[2]. The flavour is watery with a slightly medicinal flavour that is improved by freezing^[3]. The fruit is usually mixed with sugar and acid fruits such as cranberries and then cooked^[3]. They are a good currant substitute in puddings^[3].

Plant part: Fruit

Material uses

Succeeds as a ground cover plant in exposed positions^[4].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche: Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range: Eastern N. America - Labrador to Quebec, south to Michigan.
Habitat: Granitic or acidic gravel and sands on mountains^[6].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: light shade
Water: moderate
Soil textures: sandy, loamy
Soil pH: very acid, acid
Tolerances: high wind
Wind: Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be very slow to germinate, stored seed requires 5 months warm then 3 months cold stratification at 5°c^[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Takes 3 weeks. Good percentage^[7]^[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, October in a frame. Requires shade. Good percentage^[7]^[4].

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. A calcifuge plant, it is easily grown in a lime-free soil^[4]. Prefers a moist sandy peaty soil and some shade^[1]^[5]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Empetrum eamesiiRockberry
Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditumMountain Crowberry
Empetrum nigrumCrowberry
Empetrum rubrum

References

F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
↩
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
↩
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
↩1 ↩2 ↩3
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
↩
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
↩
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
↩1 ↩2