Curlew-berry
Empetrum nigrum
Last reviewed: November 2026
Curlew-berry (Empetrum nigrum) is a perennial shrub native to CA, ME, MI, NH and 4 more states. It blooms in May and June. The flowers draw small insects.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Curlew-berry, free in the app.
Toxicity unknown
Curlew-berry (Empetrum nigrum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
4"–12" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
CA, ME, MI, NH and 4 more states
Pollinators
small insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Black crowberry is a low, mat-forming evergreen shrub with tiny needle-like leaves and small pink-purple flowers, followed by black berries. It spreads slowly across open bog and tundra-like ground.
Growing Curlew-berry
Grow Curlew-berry in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide.
Wildlife value
The berries are an important food source for birds and small mammals in the cooler climates where it grows, and the dense mat provides ground-level cover.
Common questions
- How much sun does Curlew-berry need?
- Curlew-berry grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Curlew-berry bloom?
- Curlew-berry blooms in May and June.
- Where is Curlew-berry native?
- Curlew-berry (Empetrum nigrum) is native to CA, ME, MI, NH and 4 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Curlew-berry attract?
- Curlew-berry draws small insects.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Curlew-berry? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.