Black Crowberry

Empetrum nigrum

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Boloria freija (Freija Fritillary), Lycaeides idas (Northern Blue)
S14 Clossiana freija=Boloria freija from Nearctic; S4 Lycaeides idas larval host, both verified in ON/QC ranges
❄️ Winter Food Source: Persistent black drupes remain on prostrate stems through winter, providing critical forage for ptarmigan (Rock, Willow, White-tailed), Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and American Tree Sparrow. Over 40 species of songbirds and waterfowl, as well as red-backed voles and black bears, are documented feeding on the berries.
S57 11 bird species documented; S61 40+ bird species; S29 fruit hangs on plant all winter

Proximity Score: 1
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: NW
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.1 – Softwood Shield, 5.1.6 – Abitibi Plains and Rivière Rupert Plateau
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure (N5) across its circumpolar range. Secure in Ontario (S5) but not formally ranked in Quebec (SNR). Not listed under SARA. In the Great Lakes region, restricted to Lake Superior shoreline habitats and northern bog environments.
S22 G5/N5/S5-ON/SNR-QC; S26 not SARA listed; S7 restricted to Lake Superior region in Michigan
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A circumpolar, mat-forming evergreen subshrub of boreal and alpine habitats. In eastern Canada, found on exposed rock outcrops, sphagnum hummocks in black spruce and cedar swamps, sandy bluffs facing Lake Superior, and alpine summits. Associates with Vaccinium spp., Ledum, Gaultheria, Linnaea borealis, and other ericaceous heath species on acidic, oligotrophic substrates.
S7 rock outcrops, sphagnum hummocks, cedar swamps; S4 peat bogs, rocky bluffs; S61 bogs, alpine zones

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 4 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Category: Diuretic, Antidiarrheal, Cold Remedy, Ophthalmic, Kidney Aid, Cathartic, Pediatric Aid
S28 Moerman Drug categories; S29 Astringent, Diuretic, Kidney, Ophthalmic
Notes: Used medicinally by multiple Indigenous peoples. Cree Woodlands used leafy branches as a diuretic, especially for children with fever. Tanana prepared decoctions of stems for diarrhea, leaves and stems for kidney troubles, and roots as an eyewash. Bella Coola used leaf decoction as a purgative. Tanana also combined leaves and stems with Hudson Bay tea and spruce tips for colds.
S28 9 medicinal uses from Moerman; S29 diuretic, kidney, ophthalmic, astringent

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Berries eaten raw or cooked by numerous Indigenous peoples across the Arctic and subarctic, including Inupiat, Cree, Tanana, Ojibwa, and Koyukon. Flavor is watery and slightly acidic, best after frost. Traditionally stored frozen or in seal oil for winter use. Mixed with other berries for pies, jams, and ice cream. Hunters used berries to quench thirst in waterless high country.
S28 26 food uses across multiple groups; S29 taste slightly acid, watery flavour; S61 people find them edible but mix with other berries