Seascape Strawberry vs Black Crowberry - TreeTime.ca

Seascape Strawberry vs Black Crowberry

Empetrum nigrum

Fragaria x ananassa Seascape

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Black Crowberry
Seascape Strawberry

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.

The Seascape Strawberry is a cold-hardy perennial that produces large, sweet cherry-red berries that are usually ready for harvest from late spring to early fall. This variety is an Everbearing (Day Neutral) strawberry with small white flowers. It is typically more productive than other cold hardy strawberries.
The Seascape Strawberry is a self-pollinating variety, meaning it does not require a second plant nearby to set fruit. This plant produces an above average number of runners that grow quickly into new plants.

Black Crowberry Quick Facts

Seascape Strawberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.6 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: low growing, matt-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: medium


Foliage: evergreen needle-like leaves
Flowers: pink-red, very small
Flowers: small, white
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Berries: purplish-black, edible
Berries: red
Fruit size: large
Firmness: firm
Flavor: bland, slightly bitter
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late summer to fall
Harvest: May-Early September
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: yes
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