Bearberry

Scientific name

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Description

Bearberry is a low growing, evergreen shrub/ground cover species that grows about 20 cm tall. The leaves are dark green, leathery, shiny, ovate shaped, alternately arranged, and have entire margins. The flowers are tiny, urn shaped, white to pink colored, appear in drooping clusters, and bloom between April and May. Flowers are followed by bright red berries, which remain throughout the fall and winter. These berries are beneficial to wildlife species like birds and small mammals.

Planting conditions

Bearberry grows best in dry conditions with full sun exposure. It prefers well-drained, acidic, sand or rocky loam soil types. This ground cover species can be naturally found in sandy clearings, dry open forests, on rocky bluffs, and along upland shoreline slopes. Bearberry is tolerant to occasional drought once established.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Drought Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
• Plant type:
  • Ground Cover
• Height:
  • 20 cm
• Spread:
  • 50 cm