Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
(Bearberry)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:

    Common Names: Bearberry, Kinninnick
    Synonyms: Arctostaphylos adenotricha, Uva-ursi uva-ursi
    Lifespan: Perennial
    Zones: 2 - 8
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: April - June
    Status: Native
    Range:

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, or Bearberry, is native to the entire northern half of the United States, as well as the Western half past the Rockies. It is a hardy perennial, which grows in sandy, open acidic soil, where it creeps along the ground. It blooms in early to mid spring with small bell-shaped pink-white flowers.

This plant can rather easily be identified by its creeping nature, coupled with its tiny leaves, as well as its pink flowers and red berries. These characteristics separate it from most else, throughout most of its range. There are other Arctostaphylos species, but they are almost all confined to California or the Western coastal states. In most of the US, this is the only plant that looks like this with its short stature.

Go Back

Back to The Plants.

Back to A-Z Listing.