Bearberry, (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), also called kinnikinnick, flowering prostrate evergreen shrubs of the heath family (Ericaceae), occurring widely throughout the northern reaches of Europe, Asia, and North America in rocky and sandy woods and in open areas. It has woody stems that are often 1.5–1.8 metres (5–6 feet) long. Roots develop from the stem, and the plant spreads, forming a broad, massive ground cover. The foliage turns bronzy in winter. The leaf margins are rolled and fringed with hairs. The flowers, which open early in the spring, may be white, pink, or pink-tipped in colour; the flowers are in the shape of a narrow-mouthed bell and are borne in small clusters at the ends of the twigs. The berries are red.
If you live in the northern half of the United States, you’ve probably passed by bearberry and never even knew it. This plain-looking little ground cover, also known by the name kinnikinnik, is surprisingly popular with landscapers and homeowners who need a low-growing perennial that requires little care. If you have a need for a carefree ground cover, take a look at the bearberry. Keep reading for more bearberry plant info.
A low-growing sub-shrub, Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) forms an excellent groundcover on dry sandy and rocky soils, in full sun to light shade. Spreading gradually by surface rhizomes to form a mat, it grows naturally near sandy beaches and open woodlands in sandy or rocky soils. This plant requires an acid soil with a pH between 4.0 and 6.0 – it will not grow on clay. Bearberry is a host plant for several butterfly species including Hoary Elfin, Brown Elfin and Freija Fritillary.
| Soil Type | Gravel, Loam, Sand |
|---|---|
| Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial |
| Height | 6″ – 1′ |
| Bloom Color | White, Pink |
| Bloom Time | Apr, May, June |
| Spacing | 2′ |
| Hardiness Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| Root Type | Rhizome |
| Benefits | Hummingbirds, Host Plant, Deer Resistant |
Bearberry is a low growing evergreen. It has a stem that rises 2-8″ off the ground and is covered in a thick bark and fine silky hairs. On the stem are many oval-shaped, leathery leaves that are _” to 1″ long. The flowers have five petals and are pale pink or white. The petals are only _” long and are curled around the narrow center. They bloom anywhere between March and June. The fruit is a red berry 3/8″ in diameter. Bearberry gets its name because bears like to feast on these berries.
Bearberry is commonly found in dry, non-nutrient soils such as sand, soils on rock outcrops and shallow soils. This plant ranges from northern California to Alaska, east from Oregon and Washington to the mountains of west Montana, and from there, south to New Mexico. Other areas of the world include Greenland, Iceland, and northern Eurasia. Bearberry is plentiful in the wild.
Since bearberry is a low growing plant it can stay out of the wind chill. It’s fine silky hairs also help to keep it warm. Leathery leaves are also an adaptation to the cold of the tundra.
Bearberry is a very useful plant. All parts of it can be used in some way. The fruit can be eaten and cooked with other foods. The roots can be made into a tea that can treat a constant cough or slow down menstrual bleeding. A tea from the stem is used to prevent miscarriage and to speed up a women’s recovery after childbirth. The leaves can be added to tobacco or used as a substitute for it. A tea made from the leaves can be drunk to treat kidney or bladder problems.
Description
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Ericaceae), is a prostrate, much-branched shrub in the heather family. It forms large mats, with spatula-shaped, smooth-edged, evergreen leaves, pinkish-white urn-shaped flowers, and dull red edible but mealy berries.
History And Uses
The fruit, although rather dry and mealy, can be eaten and may be cooked with other foods. The leaves can be dried and added to tobacco or used as a substitute. Traditional First Nations medicinal uses include a tea made from the roots that can be drunk to treat a persistent cough or to slow excessive menstrual bleeding. The stem decoction can be drunk to prevent miscarriage, to speed a woman’s recovery after childbirth, or to bring on menstruation. The leaf decoction can be drunk to treat bladder and kidney problems. The astringent fruit with grease can be given to a child to treat diarrhea. The main modern use for the leaves is as a diuretic (activity is probably rather minimal) and urinary tract antiseptic for infections of the bladder, urethra, and kidney.
Area Of Adaptation
Bearberry is common in woodlands on sandy hills, exposed rocks, eskers and river banks throughout Canada as far north as the tree limit (including northernmost Manitoba), in the western and northern USA, Greenland, Iceland and northern Eurasia.
Cultivation And Processing
Bearberry is not currently cultivated commercially in Canada. The commercial supply comes mainly from harvest from the wild in the US, Spain, Italy, the Balkans and the Commonwealth of Independent States (formerly USSR). It can however be grown as a very attractive ground cover. Processing involves gathering the leaves and drying them, after which they may be sold whole, coarsely chopped in herbal tea mixtures, or finely ground and encapsulated. The Saskatchewan Herb Database lists several sources of seeds.
Marketing
The leaves are sold in herbal teas, sometimes mixed with other herbs such as goldenseal root, dandelion root, gentian root, parsley leaves, etc. There are several diuretic and homeopathic products made from uva-ursi leaves registered with Health Canada.
