Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) — Rare Plant Seeds
🌿 Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) — Rare Plant Seeds
Black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), also known as mountain crowberry or simply crowberry, is an evergreen, compact and exceptionally hardy northern plant with valuable berries and wide use both in the garden and for supporting health. It thrives in harsh, acidic and nutrient-poor soils.
Black crowberry is perfect for people who enjoy experimenting and want to add a truly special and rarely cultivated plant to their collection.
🌱 A garden rarity — black crowberry grown from seed
❄️ Seed stratification, or the cold period
Crowberry seeds must go through two phases — a warm one and a cold one — which imitate their natural germination cycle in the wild.
Soil proportions:
• 50% sand
• 50% acidic peat or sphagnum moss
Preparation:
• Place the mixture in a bag or container and keep the moisture evenly balanced (not too dry, not too wet).
• First, keep it warm for 6–8 weeks.
• Then place it in the refrigerator for 3–5 months at +2…+4 °C.
❄️ Natural cold–warm method outdoors
• Sow in autumn in a box outdoors.
• Soil: 50% sand + 50% peat/sphagnum moss.
• Seeds may sprout the following spring or even a year later.
• In summer, make sure the soil does not dry out; in autumn — make sure the soil in the pot is not excessively wet.
🌱 Sowing stratified crowberry seeds in pots
Soil mixture:
• 50–70% coarse sand
• 20–30% acidic peat
• 10% sphagnum moss
Scatter the seeds together with the stratification soil on the surface of the pot soil without covering them.
Germination conditions
• A bright place without direct sun so the moisture level stays stable.
• Temperature: +15…+20 °C.
• Water by misting to maintain gentle, even moisture and prevent seeds from being washed deeper into the soil.
🌿 Transplanting young crowberry plants into the garden
• Best transplanted in spring, at a distance of 25–40 cm.
• Suitable for acidic or nutrient-poor soils.
• Fertilizing is not needed in the first years, and later there is usually no real need either.
• Mulch with wood shavings, spruce needles or fine mulch to maintain stable moisture around the roots during the first years.
🌿 What black crowberry gives to the garden
✔️ A decorative, evergreen groundcover
Forms a dense, dark green carpet that stays attractive all year round. Adds natural, northern, wild character to the garden.
Grows slowly, is non-aggressive — an easy-to-grow plant that greatly simplifies garden maintenance.
✔️ Very long-lived and slow-growing
Develops a stable evergreen cover, grows for decades without spreading uncontrollably.
Requires no pruning or thinning.
✔️ Great for ecological gardening
Practically resistant to common garden diseases.
✔️ Suppresses weeds
The dense crowberry foliage blocks sunlight, preventing weed growth and limiting their ability to root — over time it becomes a natural green “mulch”.
✔️ Edible berries
Mild, neutral flavour. They are energising and refreshing.
Suitable for juices, jams, drying and northern-style dishes.
The berries remain on the plant until winter.
✔️ Extremely winter-hardy
Withstands –30…–40 °C.
Keeps its dark green colour in autumn, winter and early spring.
🌱 Black crowberry and health
• Contains anthocyanins, flavonoids and vitamin C
• Supports eye health and reduces visual fatigue
• Traditionally used to reduce inflammation
• Helps fluid elimination and gently supports kidney function
• Strengthens the immune system
• Low in sugar, rarely causes allergies
✉️ Seeds per packet: 5 pcs
✍️ Author: Heart Garden Studio
