Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

ark-toh-STAF-ih-lohs YOO-va UR-see

Description

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi known as common bearberry, is a low perennial shrub that can be effectively used as a ground cover. It is low maintainence and prefers dry to moderate moisture and is drought tolerant. 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 desireable flavor and are rather mealy. These fruits do provide an interesting vidual 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.

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

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

Tags:

#white #evergreen #pink #sun #full sun #drought tolerant #spring #white flowers #light shade #pink flowers #salt tolerant #spring flowers #wetlands #hedges #wet sites #salt spray tolerant #mat #dappled sunlight #bronze leaves #low #low plant #red fruits #wet soil #short plant #kinninnick #groundcover #green fruits

Arctistaphylos uvaursi - hedge plant Jim Lawrence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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

Tags:

Attributes:
Genus:

Arctostaphylos

Species:

uva-ursi

Family:

Ericaceae

Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):

good drought tolerance; good salt spray tolerance

Dimensions:

Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.

Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Ground Cover

Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Habit/Form:

Prostrate

Growth Rate:

Slow

Texture:

Fine

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 pH:

Acid (<6.0)

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Available Space To Plant:

12 inches-3 feet

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Green

Red/Burgundy

Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Description:

Fruit is .2- to .5-in. and green, but it turns red in fall.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Pink

White

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Description:

This plant has small, urn-shaped, white to pinkish flowers in spring.

Leaves:
Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Feel:

Leathery

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

< 1 inch

Leaf Description:

This plant has 1-in., leathery, dark green leaves which are teardrop shape. They may turn bronze in winter.