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Mountain Crowberry

Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
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Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum (Mountain Crowberry) — botanical photograph
Pl. BBE2 — Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum
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I

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. This plant thrives in moist environments with light to medium soil types, including clay, and requires full sun. It can grow up to 0.3 meters tall and is hardy in zones 3-8, making it suitable for temperate regions. The distinctive feature of this plant lies in its edible fruit, which can be used to make tea. Its adaptability to a wide range of pH levels (4.3–7.8) and its ability to grow in various soil types make it a resilient and versatile plant. While primarily known for its ornamental value and edible fruit, Mountain Crowberry is also a ground cover that can be used in landscaping. Its slow growth rate and stoloniferous growth habit make it an excellent choice for creating a dense, low-maintenance ground cover in gardens and natural settings.

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. This plant thrives in moist environments with light to medium soil types, including clay, and requires full sun.

Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Mountain Crowberry thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-draining soil 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 to a height of 0.3 meters and produces edible fruit. The plant can tolerate a wide pH range of 4.3 to 7.8, making it adaptable to various soil conditions. For propagation, consider using 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. 1

    What you'll need

    Mountain Crowberry plant or seeds, potting soil, container, watering can.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are mild.

  3. 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. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Transplant young plants from nursery pots into your garden or container; sow seeds in spring, covering them lightly.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged; avoid direct sunlight for the first week.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Provide full sun and regular watering; prune lightly in late winter to maintain shape.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune in late winter to encourage new growth and remove dead branches; harvest fruit when ripe, usually in summer.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting in full sun, neglecting to prune, using incorrect soil pH.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:Fruit
Edible uses: Tea
Other uses:Ground cover
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

64 native · 1 introduced
Distribution across3 continents· 64 native· 1 introduced
Europe21 regions
native (21)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIcelandIrelandNetherlandsNorwayPolandRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom
Asia1 region
native (1)Mongolia
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, Michigan, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New York, Newfoundland, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Oregon, Prince Edward I., Québec, Saskatchewan, Svalbard, Tuva, Vermont, Washington, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon
introduced:Minnesota
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum (Mountain Crowberry) — botanical photograph
Mountain Crowberry (Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum)
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Explore further

Growing zone
XII

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