Mountain Crowberry
Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Plant identification, safety, and edibility depend on local conditions, cultivars, and correct identification. Consult a qualified botanist or forager before consuming or handling wild specimens. How we source & review →
Pl. BBE2 — Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditumEmpetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
IOverview
Overview
Mountain Crowberry (Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum) is a small subshrub or shrub native to regions including Alaska, Albania, Alberta, and parts of Europe such as Austria and Belarus. Known for its edible fruit, this plant thrives in moist environments with light to medium soil types, tolerating clay soils as well. It requires full sun and can grow up to 0.3 meters tall. The plant's adaptability to a wide range of pH levels (4.3–7.8) makes it resilient in various conditions. Its distinctive feature lies in its edible fruit, contributing to its significance both ornamentally and as a food source.
Quick answers
What is Mountain Crowberry?
Mountain Crowberry (Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum) is a small subshrub or shrub native to regions including Alaska, Albania, Alberta, and parts of Europe such as Austria and Belarus. Known for its edible fruit, this plant thrives in moist environments with light to medium soil types, tolerating clay soils as well.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Mountain Crowberry thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils that can range from light (sandy) to heavy (clay). It is hardy in zones 3-8, making it suitable for temperate regions. This subshrub or shrub grows up to 0.3 meters tall and produces edible fruit. Ensure the soil pH is between 4.3 and 7.8 for optimal growth. Propagate through seeds or cuttings.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
3-8
Habit
Subshrub, Shrub
Mature size
0.3 m tall
Soil pH
4.3–7.8
For first-time growers
How to grow Mountain Crowberry for the first time
8steps
Start with a simple, low-maintenance shrub that thrives in various conditions.
- 1
What you'll need
Mountain Crowberry plant or seeds, potting soil, container, watering can.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are mild.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use a well-draining potting mix with a pH between 4.3-7.8; ensure the container has drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Transplant young plants from nursery pots into your garden or container; sow seeds in spring, covering them lightly.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged; avoid direct sunlight for the first week.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide full sun and regular watering; prune lightly in late winter to maintain shape.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune in late winter to encourage new growth and remove dead branches; harvest fruit when ripe, usually in summer.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in full sun, neglecting to prune, using incorrect soil pH.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:Fruit
Edible uses: Tea
Other uses:Ground cover
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
30 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
30 native · 0 introducedDistribution across2 continents· 30 native
Europe12 regions
native (12)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceIcelandIrelandRussiaUnited Kingdom
Americas2 regions
native (2)GreenlandUnited States
Broader regions
native:Alberta, Aleutian Is., Altay, British Columbia, Buryatiya, California, Chita, Czechoslovakia, Føroyar, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Krasnoyarsk, Labrador, Magadan, Maine, Manitoba
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
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Back to the cataloguePlant id · bbe2f1e2-65ec-4423-958c-7d1897567bc4
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