Purple Crowberry: A Mysterious Native Shrub Worth Knowing
Meet purple crowberry (Empetrum eamesii), a native shrub that’s something of an enigma in the gardening world. While its cousins in the Empetrum family get plenty of attention, this particular species flies under the radar – but that doesn’t make it any less interesting for curious native plant enthusiasts.
What Exactly Is Purple Crowberry?
Purple crowberry is a perennial shrub that typically stays compact, usually growing less than 13-16 feet tall. Like most shrubs, it develops multiple stems from or near ground level, creating a bushy appearance that can add texture and structure to your landscape. As a member of the crowberry family, it’s built to last through the seasons and come back year after year.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has quite an impressive range across North America. You’ll find it naturally growing in both Canada and the lower 48 states, with populations documented in:
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Labrador
- Newfoundland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Vermont
This distribution tells us it’s adapted to cooler climates and can handle some serious winter weather – a real plus if you’re gardening in northern regions.
The Challenge: Limited Information
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating): purple crowberry is one of those plants that hasn’t been extensively studied or documented in popular gardening resources. While we know it exists and where it grows, specific details about its care requirements, appearance, and garden performance are surprisingly scarce.
This information gap means that growing purple crowberry would be something of an adventure – perfect for the gardener who enjoys experimenting with lesser-known natives but potentially frustrating for those who prefer well-documented plants with established care guides.
Should You Plant Purple Crowberry?
The honest answer? It depends on your gardening personality and goals.
Consider purple crowberry if you:
- Love experimenting with rare or unusual native plants
- Live within its natural range and want to support local ecosystems
- Don’t mind learning through trial and observation
- Appreciate the satisfaction of growing something truly uncommon
Look for alternatives if you:
- Prefer plants with well-established care instructions
- Need guaranteed results for a specific landscape design
- Want detailed information about mature size, appearance, and seasonal changes
- Are new to native gardening and prefer starting with better-documented species
Growing Tips (Based on What We Know)
Given its natural range across northern regions with harsh winters, purple crowberry likely prefers:
- Cool to cold climates (based on its geographic distribution)
- Conditions similar to other Empetrum species, which typically favor acidic, well-draining soils
- Locations that mimic its native habitats in northern forests and coastal areas
Since specific care information is limited, your best bet would be to observe the conditions where it grows naturally in your area and try to replicate those in your garden.
The Bottom Line
Purple crowberry represents both the excitement and challenge of native plant gardening. While its mysterious nature might appeal to adventurous gardeners, the lack of detailed growing information makes it a risky choice for those needing predictable results.
If you’re intrigued but want more certainty, consider starting with better-documented native shrubs from your region first. You can always circle back to purple crowberry once you’ve gained more experience with native plant care – and who knows? You might even help fill in some of those information gaps along the way!
