Portuguese Crowberry Plant Care

Portuguese Crowberry (Corema album) belongs to the Ericaceae family within the Corema genus. Portuguese Crowberry is native to North America. Portuguese Crowberry is also known as White Broom.

Portuguese Crowberry displays a low, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Portuguese Crowberry produces small white or pink bell-shaped flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 1.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Portuguese Crowberry every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Portuguese Crowberry thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Corema album tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Portuguese Crowberry prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining acidic soil mix with high organic content, such as peat moss and pine bark. Good drainage is essential for Portuguese Crowberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Portuguese Crowberry every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and well-draining acidic soil mix with high organic content, such as peat moss and pine bark. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Portuguese Crowberry is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Portuguese Crowberry can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Portuguese Crowberry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Portuguese Crowberry is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Portuguese Crowberry can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to corema conradii plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Portuguese Crowberry is susceptible to spider mites, scale insects, aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Portuguese Crowberry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Portuguese Crowberry is native to North America. In cooler regions, grow Portuguese Crowberry as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.