Pure stands of bearberry can be extremely dense, with heights rarely taller than 6 inches. Erect branching twigs emerge from long flexible prostrate stems, which are produced by single roots. The

trailing stems will layer, sending out small roots periodically. The finely textured velvety branches are initially white to pale green, becoming smooth and red-brown with maturity. The small solitary three scaled buds are dark brown.

The simple leaves of this broadleaf evergreen are alternately arranged on branches. Each leaf is held by a twisted leaf stalk, vertically. The leathery dark green leaves are an inch long and have rounded tips tapering back to the base. In fall, the leaves begin changing from a dark green to a reddish-green to purple.

Terminal clusters of small urn-shaped flowers bloom from May to June. The perfect flowers are white to pink, and bear round, fleshy or mealy, bright red to pink fruits called drupes. This smooth, glossy skinned fruit will range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. The fruit will persist on the plant into early winter. Each drupe contains 1 to 5 hard seeds, which need to be scarified and stratified prior to germination to reduce the seed coat and break embryo dormancy. There is an average of 40,900 cleaned seeds per pound.

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Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. coactilis Fernald & J.F. Macbr.:
United States (North America)
Canada (North America)

Daphnidostaphylis fendleri Klotzsch:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Arbutus uva-ursi L.:
Canada (North America)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. marinensis Roof:
United States (North America)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. leobreweri Roof:
United States (North America)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. monoensis Roof:
United States (North America)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. adenotricha Fernald & J.F. Macbr.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.:
Greenland (North America)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Bearberry’s native range is from Labrador to Alaska, south to Virginia, Illinois, Nebraska, and in the mountains from New Mexico north through California to Alaska. This long-lived, low growing shrub is very cold tolerant. This plant prefers coarse well to excessively drained soils of forests, sand dunes, bald or barren areas. It does not tolerate moist or off-drained sites. Although bearberry is often found growing in the open on sand dunes, it grows well under partial shade of forest canopies.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Bearberry can be propagated from seeds, softwood cuttings or pre-rooted stem cuttings. It is difficult to root this plant from bare cuttings in the greenhouse. Scarified seed sown in early summer will improve germination the following spring, but this technique is not as reliable as cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be harvested in late summer, and rooted stem cuttings are most successful when harvested during the dormant season. Successfully grown seedlings or cuttings should be handled carefully in containers; bare root plantings are rarely effective.

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Cortinarius venetus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Remarks: Other: uncertain

Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Domingoella dematiaceous anamorph of Domingoella arctostaphyli is saprobic on dead leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Remarks: season: 10

Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Exobasidium sydowianum parasitises live leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Plant / associate
fruitbody of Leccinum vulpinum is associated with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Foodplant / parasite
amphigenous thyriothecium of Lembosina gontardii parasitises leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Remarks: season: 5

Foodplant / pathogen
Phytophthora kernoviae infects and damages Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous apothecium of Propolis phacidioides parasitises grey leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Other: major host/prey

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Species: 16
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

There are no known varieties of bearberry available; local or regional selections are available from commercial nurseries.

This shrub species requires very little maintenance once it has been established. Annual spring applications of 10-10-10 will increase the growth rate of bearberry, but will also increase weed growth. Weed growth must be controlled to sustain healthy stands of bearberry.

Comments: BLACKFOOT: leaves dried and mixed with tobacco. berries eaten raw or preserved. MENOMINI: seasoner for "female remedies"; dried leaves used as a diuretic, tonic, astringent. useful for inflamed urinary diseases. for bronchitis, diarrhea, leucorrhea, amenorrhea and uterine hemorrhages. powdered dry leaves used as a substitute for, or mixed with, tobacco. KUTENAI: berries boiled for emergency food (left on shrubs, not stored). WY, MN, MO, OR, BC: fruit eaten raw or cooked, or dried, ground and made into bread or mush; also used for seasoning meats. fruit = good source of vitamin C, used raw or as a sauce or jam. leaf = tobacco substitute, used as a tea for urinary tract inflammation

Bearberry serves a dual role on sandy soils, as both a beautification plant as well as a critical area stabilizer. The thick, prostrate, vegetative mat and evergreen character are what make bearberry a very popular ground cover. It is often planted around home sites, sand dunes, sandy banks, and commercial sites. The fruit it produces is eaten by a few species of songbirds and game animals. Deer will sometimes browse the foliage lightly.