Curlew-berry
Empetrum nigrum
Last reviewed: August 2026
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBlack 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.
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.
Ready to grow Curlew-berry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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