Schubert Chokecherry vs Black Crowberry - TreeTime.ca

Schubert Chokecherry vs Black Crowberry

Prunus virginiana Schubert

Empetrum nigrum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Schubert Chokecherry
Black Crowberry

Schubert Chokecherry is similar to a western chokecherry but features beautiful purple-red leaves throughout the summer.

This small, flowering tree is perfectly suited as an ornamental for city yards.

The fruit from this tree is a staff favourite for jams, jellies, and wines.

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.

Schubert Chokecherry Quick Facts

Black Crowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: low growing, matt-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: Toxic to animals with segmented stomachs (horses, cattle, deer moose, etc.)

Foliage: evergreen needle-like leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Flowers: white
Flowers: pink-red, very small
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Fruit: edible dark red berries, 10mm diameter, pitted, tart, good
Berries: edible dark red berries, 10mm diameter, pitted, tart, good
Berries: purplish-black, edible
Flavor: bland, slightly bitter
Harvest: late summer to fall
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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