Corema conradii aka Broom Crowberry

Corema conradii is a low evergreen shrub from eastern North America. Kew places it in the heath family, Ericaceae. Its range runs from eastern Canada into the northeastern United States. Canadian records include Quebec’s Magdalen Islands, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. They also include Newfoundland and Labrador. In the United States, records extend from Maine to New Jersey. The RHS lists broom crowberry, heath berry, and poverty grass as common names.

This small shrub reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. It keeps its leaves through the year. Wild plants grow in dry, sandy sites and pine barrens. They also grow among rocks rich in silica. These habitats help explain its need for soil without lime. Its low size suits beds where taller shrubs would dominate. PFAF lists woodland edges and lightly shaded gardens as possible settings.

Flowers appear in April, with male and female flowers on separate plants. This arrangement is called dioecious. A lone plant cannot set seed through self-fertilisation. Grow both sexes if you want fruit or seed. The fruit is edible, either fresh or cooked. Each fruit is dry and less than 0.01 feet [0.003 metres] across. Its small size limits its value as a food crop. PFAF gives its food use a score of one out of five. That source reports no known hazards, but this is not a full safety assessment.

Choose light sandy soil or a medium loam with good drainage. The soil should be acidic and free of lime. The plant also tolerates very acidic soil. Full sun and light shade both suit it. PFAF reports that it accepts dry or moist soil. It lists USDA hardiness zones 3–7. These needs make soil choice important when planning a planting site. A woodland edge can work where the soil and light fit.

PFAF advises sowing fresh seed in a cold frame. Stored seed needs five warm months, then three months at 41°F. Keep young seedlings in separate pots once large enough to handle. Give them greenhouse shelter through at least their first winter. Set them out after frost risk passes in late spring or early summer. Cuttings offer another way to raise plants. Take half-ripe wood in July or August, or mature current-season wood in November. Root both types in a frame.