Firecracker Goji Berry vs Black Crowberry - TreeTime.ca

Firecracker Goji Berry vs Black Crowberry

Lycium barbarum Firecracker

Empetrum nigrum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Firecracker Goji Berry
Black Crowberry

The Firecracker Goji Berry is a thornless cultivar of the Goji Berry that is known for its sweet red berries. This deciduous perennial produces purple flowers from June through September, with fruit maturation taking place between August and October. Fruit production typically starts in the second year of growth with maximum production in the fourth and fifth year.

Firecracker Goji Berry berries are delicious, nutrient rich, high in antioxidants, and are often called a super fruit. Many describe the Firecracker as sweeter than other cultivars.

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.

Firecracker Goji Berry Quick Facts

Black Crowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: low growing, matt-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: evergreen
Foliage: evergreen needle-like leaves
Flowers: purple
Flowers: pink-red, very small
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Fruit: edible
Berries: red
Berries: purplish-black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Flavor: bland, slightly bitter
Harvest: June - September
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: goji berry firecracker
Other Names: crakeberry, curlewberry, heathberry, northern crowberry