purple crowberry

Purple crowberry, also known as rockberry (E. eamesii), is a low-growing evergreen shrub belonging to the heath family. It thrives in subarctic, alpine, and boreal regions. The plant produces juicy, edible berries that are somewhat acidic and range in color from reddish to purple to black, depending on the species. These berries are a vital food source for various songbirds, waterfowl, bears, voles, and other mammals. Indigenous peoples have historically used crowberries for food and medicine. The plant typically grows to about 10 inches tall, with narrow, succulent leaves and small, purplish-pink flowers. Purple crowberry is specifically found in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.1