Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Bearberry:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ark-toh-STAF-ih-lohs YOO-va UR-see
- Description
-
Known as common bearberry, this native evergreen is a low growing perennial shrub that can be effectively used as a ground cover. Its natural habitat includes rocky sites, open woods, dry areas, sandy hills and mountain ranges. Its scientific name comes from the Greek arctos meaning 'bear' and staphyle translating to 'grape.' As the names indicate, the fruits of this plant are enjoyed by the local bear population. The berries are also suitable for human consumption, however, they are seldom eaten due to their lack of flavor.
Soil surrounding the plant should not be compacted. Fertilization is discouraged.
It does not like to be transplanted, so choose the correct location when planting. Propagation is best done with stem cuttings, they can be placed in sand or propagating by layering.
It is low maintenance and prefers dry to moderate moisture and is drought tolerant. It does not do well in eastern US because of wet, humid summer weather. The plant forms a low, creeping, mat-like cover to the soil and grows slowly. This plant produces drupes, a small berry-like fruit which, though technically edible by humans, are not considered to have a desirable flavor and are rather mealy. These fruits do provide an interesting visual and are produced in the summer with a green color, which matures to red in the fall. The foliage is also green, however in the winter the leaves turn a bronze color but will regain their green foliage come spring. Other attractive features include the exfoliating bark and white flowers.
Bearberry is an important food source for butterflies, serving as a host plant for Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), and Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija) larvae.
Space: 12-24 inches apart
Issues: moist to wet soil can lead to root disease
Site: light-textured soil
Form: Prostrate low mat
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Alaska
Compact flat growing form with small, round, dark green leaves. - Anchor Bay
- Big bear
Large, shiny dark green leaves and large red fruits, reddish winter leaf color. - MIcrophylla
- Tom's Point
- Alaska
- Alaska, Anchor Bay, Big bear, MIcrophylla, Tom's Point
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Alaska
Compact flat growing form with small, round, dark green leaves. - Anchor Bay
- Big bear
Large, shiny dark green leaves and large red fruits, reddish winter leaf color. - MIcrophylla
- Tom's Point
- Alaska
- Alaska, Anchor Bay, Big bear, MIcrophylla, Tom's Point
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arctostaphylos
- Species:
- uva-ursi
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Landscape
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Bears, birds and other wildlife will often eat the berries. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. It is the host plant for Hoary Elfin, Brown Elfin and Freija Fritellary butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- good drought tolerance; good salt spray tolerance
- Edibility:
- The berries are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is .2- to .5-in. and green, but it turns red in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has small, urn-shaped, white to pinkish flowers in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has 1-in., leathery, dark green leaves which are teardrop shape. They are yellow-green in the springtime, dark green in the summer months and may turn bronze or reddish-purple in the winter.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Papery, reddish, exfoliating bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Showy red stems.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Riparian
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
