APPEARANCE
The crowberry is a 20 centimetre tall, low creeping bush with hairy stems. It has leaves that look like little douglas fir needles, and black-purple berries in fall.
RANGE & HABITAT
Crowberry is found across B.C. from sea level to alpine, but especially in rocky and exposed bogs, open areas and tundra.
LIFE CYCLE
Crowberry spreads sometimes by seed, but most commonly by underground roots. The purple flowers open in the spring, and ripen into black-purple berries.
ANIMAL USES
Bears love the berries, and other animals, including birds, mice and squirrels will eat them too.
TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Many coastal and Arctic First Nations groups eat the berries fresh, but the Haida believes that too many of them can be harmful.
OTHER USES
Crowberries are grown commercially for nurseries and gardeners.
STATUS
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow
MORE INFORMATION
Photo: Sergey Yeliseev
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