Practical
Plants

Empetrum nigrum

Crowberry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Empetrum genus in the family Empetraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[1][8][12][13][14]. It can taste slightly acid or insipid[2]. Not very desirable[3], it tastes best after a frost[6]. A watery flavour, it is mainly used for making drinks, pies, preserves etc[7]. The Inuit dry or freeze them for winter use[7]. The fruit can hang on the plant all winter[6]. The fruit is about 7.5mm in diameter[9]. A tea can be made from the twigs[7].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leafy branches have been used, especially for children with a fever, as a diuretic[11]. It has also been used to treat kidney problems[11]. A decoction or infusion of the stems, or the cooked berries, have been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[11]. A decoction of the leaves and stems, mixed with Hudson Bay tea and young spruce tree tips, has been used in the treatment of colds[11]. A decoction of the roots has been used as an eyewash to remove a growth[11].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A purple dye is obtained from the fruit[4]. Can be used for groundcover in exposed locations[9]. Plants should be spaced about 25cm apart each way[10].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, Iceland to the Pyrenees, east to Siberia and Bulgaria and also N. America
Habitat
Moors and mountain tops, and in the drier parts of blanket bogs[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
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[9]. 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[15][9]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, October in a frame. Requires shade. Good percentage[15][9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A calcifuge plant, it is easily grown in a lime-free soil[9]. Prefers a moist sandy peaty soil and some shade[1][12]. The two names var. 'Rubrum' and var. 'Purpureum' are of doubtful application to this species and may refer to E. eamesii[9]. Plants are usually dioecious though hermaphrodite forms are known. Male and female plants will normally need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

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  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  13. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  14. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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