Red Crowberry Plant Care

Red Crowberry (Empetrum rubrum) belongs to the Ericaceae family within the Empetrum genus. Red Crowberry is also known as Chilean Crowberry.

Red Crowberry displays a low spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Red Crowberry produces small, urn-shaped flowers in shades of red, purple, or green.

Leaf size: approximately 1.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Red 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.

Red Crowberry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Empetrum rubrum tolerates temperatures of 50–70°F. Red Crowberry prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

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

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

Red 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.

Red Crowberry can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 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 Red 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.

Red 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.

Red Crowberry can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to black crowberry plant care, which shares the same genus.

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

Red Crowberry is susceptible to spider mites, aphids, root rot. 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.

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