Empetrum eamesii
Rockberry
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Empetrum genus in the family Empetraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Empetraceae
- Genus
- Empetrum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 0.15 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[2][3]. The fruit is about 4mm in diameter[3].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds as a ground cover plant in exposed positions[3].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- North-eastern N. America - S.E. Labrador to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
- Habitat
- Exposed sands and siliceous gravels and rocks[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[3]. 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[6][3]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, October in a frame. Requires shade. Good percentage[6][3].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A calcifuge plant, it is easily grown in a lime-free soil[3]. Prefers a moist sandy peaty soil and some shade[1][4]. The flowers of this species are usually hermaphrodite, but some female flowers are produced[3].
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
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
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