Origin: west of Hepburn, Saskatchewan (52°N), near the North Saskatchewan River; wild plant discovered in 1906 by Maria Loewen and transplanted to her parents' farm near Debenham. Years later, removed to their farm near Langham, Saskatchewan. Obtained from this farm and introduced by G. Krahn (Lakeshore Tree Farms, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) in 1976. Flowers a few days earlier than other cultivars. Fruit up to 17 mm diam., nearly spherical, blue-black with slight bloom; typically 6-12 per cluster, cluster fairly loose, uneven ripening; excellent flavor, fresh and juicy. Shrub to 5 m high; initially upright, but tends to sprawl from an early age, eventually becoming a large bush, up to 6 m spread at maturity; moderate to good suckering near crown, crown expands indefinitely; crown long-lived, 70+ years. Hardy to zone 1. Some resistance to powdery mildew. It is much favored for U-pick orchards. It had the second largest commercial hectarage in Canada in 1993. Winner of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Cultivar Award in 1994. Currently being evaluated in a comprehensive cultivar trial. Tree: Fruit:
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