Common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a tough, low-growing evergreen ground cover perfect for dry, sunny sites. This Common bearberry offers year-round structure and tolerance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is an invaluable, extremely winter-hardy, prostrate evergreen shrub valued for its dense, creeping habit. This circumpolar ground-hugger provides excellent year-round texture with dark green, leathery leaves that often bronze slightly in winter. It is highly adaptable, thriving in challenging conditions where many other ground covers fail.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi establishes quickly through root development along its flexible branches, creating an effective living mat. This makes it a premier choice for stabilizing open, exposed slopes and areas requiring slow-growing, resilient coverage. Its low-maintenance nature cements its status as a favorite for naturalizing challenging landscapes.
Though its flowers are small, the plant features distinct showy bloom clusters followed by scarlet-red fruits that persist into winter, providing crucial interest. Identifying this plant is simple, as it shares many names, including kinnikinnick, reflecting its widespread historical use and adaptability across the temperate northern Hemisphere.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Ericaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Native Range: Temperate northern Hemisphere
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 2-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-1 ft
- Spread: 3-6 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: White with a pink tinge
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi demands excellent drainage; plant it in acidic, dry to medium, sandy, or gritty soils. Full sun is preferred, although this Common bearberry tolerates light shade, generally preferring cooler microclimates. Avoid planting in locations subject to hot, humid summers, as this stress increases susceptibility to potential diseases.
Once established, this plant is remarkably drought tolerant and requires virtually no supplemental water or fertilizer. Plants should not be fertilized at any point, as rich conditions promote weak growth. Established plants are sensitive to root disturbance; site them carefully as they tolerate division and transplanting poorly.
For propagation, utilize cuttings taken from the current season’s growth or layering techniques. Species plants can also be grown from seed, though this method is slower. Ensure the chosen site is an exposed, open area where the plant can spread freely to achieve its maximum 3 to 6-foot spread.
Landscape Uses
The primary function of Common bearberry is as a moderate to large-scale ground cover that provides year-round aesthetic appeal. Few plants match its effectiveness in stabilizing soil on challenging slopes and hillsides where erosion is a concern. Its creeping structure makes it an excellent choice for draping over retaining walls, softening rocky outcrops in rock gardens, or filling in margins along sunny borders.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi establishes well in naturalized settings or native plant gardens, often pairing beautifully with other acid-loving evergreens or hardy conifers. Its dense mat helps suppress competing weeds naturally once fully established. Beyond its structural beauty, historical use notes that sprigs of its green leaves and red berries make excellent, naturally festive Christmas decorations.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, known by a large number of common names including common bearberry and kinninnick, is an extremely winter hardy, creeping, slow-growing, prostrate, woody evergreen shrub that typically grows to 6-12” tall but spreads over time by flexible branching (roots at the nodes) to 3-6’ wide or more. This is a circumpolar ground-hugger which is native throughout the northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia. In North America, it is typically found in a variety of locations from Alaska to Newfoundland south through Canada to Virginia, Illinois, South Dakota, New Mexico and central California in a variety of habitats typically including gravelly and/or sandy exposed sites, dry/rocky slopes/outcrops, forest margins and forest clearings. The genus name references bears eating the fruits, a theme reflected in the specific epithet uva-ursi (bear’s grape).
Tolerances
- Erosion
Potential Problems
Overall, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi resists serious insect or disease issues, aligning with its low-maintenance reputation. The biggest threat arises when cultural requirements are ignored, especially drainage. If grown in poorly-drained sites or in climates hotter than preferred, this bearberry becomes more susceptible to fungal issues such as root rot, black mildew, leaf gall, leaf spot, and rust. Ensure sharp drainage and avoid excessive watering to prevent these problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Common bearberry suitable for?
This highly durable plant is suitable for USDA Zones 2 through 7, provided summer heat and humidity are managed.
How large does Arctostaphylos uva-ursi grow?
It remains very short, typically reaching only 0.5 to 1 foot in height, but it spreads aggressively to cover areas 3 to 6 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Common bearberry need?
It performs best in full sun but successfully tolerates partial shade, making it a versatile choice for sunny borders or dappled woodland edges.
When does Arctostaphylos uva-ursi bloom?
Flowering occurs from April to May, producing miniature, drooping, urn-shaped flowers noted for their white color with a slight pink tinge.
Conclusion
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a rugged, beautiful solution for difficult, dry, and acidic sites needing low-growing, evergreen coverage. Its hardiness, coupled with season-long interest from its foliage and fruit, makes the Common bearberry a superior ground cover choice for northern climates. Always confirm that your planting site offers the sharp drainage this species requires to ensure long-term success.
Propagation Tips
The creeping nature of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi makes it amenable to vegetative propagation methods, which help maintain desirable genetic traits. The best approach involves taking tip cuttings from current season’s growth when the stems are semi-hardwooded. These cuttings, when provided with proper conditions, are capable of rooting and establishing new individuals.
Layering is another highly effective technique for increasing your stock of Common bearberry. Because the flexible branches root where they touch moist soil, guide low-hanging, flexible stems down and cover a portion of the node area with gritty soil, anchoring them in place until roots develop.
For gardeners working with species plants, propagation by seed is possible; however, this process is generally slower and less predictable than employing cuttings or layering. Focus instead on vegetative methods for quicker, more reliable coverage across slopes needing remediation or filling in.
Wildlife Benefits
The small ceramic berries of Common bearberry are a significant food source for native wildlife, especially during late fall and winter when other resources are scarce. Bears, birds, and various small mammals readily consume the fruits, which gives the plant both its common name and its botanical epithet meaning “bear’s grape.”
While the fruits are technically edible for humans, they are generally described as mealy and insipid, meaning they offer little appeal compared to other wild berries but are heavily favored by fauna. The dense, evergreen mat provides excellent low cover and nesting opportunities for ground birds throughout the winter months.
