Common Name: Purple Crowberry

General Information

Empetrum atropurpureum is a densely branched, prostrate, trailing, evergreen shrub with stems around 50 - 100cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover in exposed conditions.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern N. America - Newfoundland, Labrador and Quebec, south to New York.

Habitat

Granitic or acidic gravel and sands on mountains[]. Sand dunes, sandy terraces, exposed mountain slopes near treeline; at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.20 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A calcifuge plant, it is easily grown in a lime-free soil[]. Prefers a moist sandy peaty soil and some shade[, ].
This species is usually bisexual, though some plants can have a mixture of male, female and bisexual flowers[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The flavour is watery with a slightly medicinal flavour that is improved by freezing[]. The fruit is usually mixed with sugar and acid fruits such as cranberries and then cooked[]. They are a good currant substitute in puddings[]. The reddish purple to purple fruits are around 5 - 9mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

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

Other Uses

None known

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[]. 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, mid summer in a frame. Takes 3 weeks. Good percentage[, ].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, early autumn in a frame. Requires shade. Good percentage[, ].