Empetrum eamesii
Fernald. & Wiegand.
Rockberry
(c) tyler_hoar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by tyler_hoar
(c) Todd Boland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit is edible raw or cooked and measures about 4mm in diameter.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It suits USDA hardiness zones 3-8.
Canada, North America, USA,
How to Identify
A low lying evergreen shrub. The stems lie along the ground and the plant forms mats. It grows 20 cm tall and spreads 50 cm wide. The leaves are alternate or in rings. The flowers occur singly near the tips of the branches. They have 3 white petals. The fruit are round and red. They are 4 mm across.
How to Grow
Prefers a moist sandy peaty soil and some shade. The flowers of this species are usually hermaphrodite, but some female flowers are produced.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Germination can be very slow; stored seed requires 5 months of warm stratification followed by 3 months cold stratification at 5°C. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough and grow on under glass for at least their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3cm with a heel, taken July/August in a frame take about 3 weeks and strike at a good percentage. Cuttings of mature wood from the current year's growth, 3cm with a heel, taken in October in a frame with shade, also give a good percentage.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
Works well as a ground cover plant in exposed positions.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Empetrum eamesii, common name purple crowberry, is a North American species of dwarf evergreen shrub.
References (1)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
