Riverbank Grape vs Black Crowberry - TreeTime.ca

Riverbank Grape vs Black Crowberry

Vitis riparia

Empetrum nigrum

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Riverbank Grape
Black Crowberry

The Riverbank Grape, also known as the Frost Grape, or Wild Grape, is a cold-hardy variety that produces fragrant white flowers in the spring and then tart, purple grapes late in the summer.

The Riverbank Grape is a vigorous grower that attracts lots of wildlife, who enjoy the fruit and flowers. This plant is native to North America, and is also highly resistant to fungal diseases, making this a great addition to your city gardens. This plant does best with a trellis.

Note: We do not ship grape vines to BC due to regulatory restrictions from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Black Crowberry is a native evergreen shrub that forms low, spreading mats. It has unique foliage that spirals around the stem, and small dark berries, giving it visual appeal. The berries are edible, but can be acidic, so they are not generally eaten fresh. In colder climates, the berries develop a sweet-tart flavor and are often dried or used in desserts, jams, and jellies.

This hardy shrub provides food for birds and mammals, while its flowers attract pollinators such as bees. It also serves as a host plant for certain butterflies and moths. Together, these roles make it a key contributor to the health of tundra and boreal ecosystems.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the berries are known locally as ‘blackberries’ and are enjoyed in jams, jellies, and traditional baked goods such as buns and puddings. In Scandinavia, they continue to be used in liqueurs, wines, and juices.

Riverbank Grape Quick Facts

Black Crowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Growth form: low growing, matt-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: none


Foliage: evergreen needle-like leaves
Bark: yellow-red to brown
Flowers: fragrant white
Flowers: pink-red, very small
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Berries: purple
Berries: purplish-black, edible
Firmness: firm
Flavor: tart
Flavor: bland, slightly bitter
Harvest: late summer
Harvest: late summer to fall
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC, NB
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: frost grape, wild grape
Other Names: crakeberry, curlewberry, heathberry, northern crowberry