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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Armeria maritima Armeria maritima
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis
Aronia melanocarpa Form

Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Bearberry:

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

See this plant in the following landscape:
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, Anchor Bay, Big bear, MIcrophylla, Tom's Point
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#white flowers#pink flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#dwarf#wetlands#hedges#salt spray tolerant#mat#dappled sunlight#bronze leaves#low growing plant#red fruits#groundcover#green fruits#spring interest#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant
 
Arctistaphylos uvaursi - hedge plant
Arctistaphylos uvaursi - hedge plant Jim Lawrence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Form
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Arctostaphylos uvaursi
Fruit Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Arctostaphylos uvaursi
Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Flower and Leaves Jim Robbins 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
Alaska, Anchor Bay, Big bear, MIcrophylla, Tom's Point
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#white flowers#pink flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#dwarf#wetlands#hedges#salt spray tolerant#mat#dappled sunlight#bronze leaves#low growing plant#red fruits#groundcover#green fruits#spring interest#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant
  • 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
    Woody Plant 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, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a
  • 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:
    Woody Plant 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Salt