Bearberry

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Also known as: kinnikinnick Bloom time: April - June

Additional photos:

• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi before first bloom
  credit: Elisabeth Beaubien


• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi past mid bloom
  credit: Elisabeth Beaubien


• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi flowers
  credit: Melanie Preisnitz

General: Trailing evergreen shrub, up to 10 cm tall; often forming mats.

Leaves & Twigs:

• Leaves have a somewhat shiny upper surface and leathery texture.


• Oval to spatula-shaped leaves, 1-2 cm long, similar to cranberry leaves, but more flat and dull.

Flowers & Fruits: Tiny pinkish to white flowers shaped like vases or urns occur in small clusters that droop off branch tips.
Note: Flowers are similar to the cranberry's, but bearberry blossoms have semi-translucent "windows" at their base. Cranberry flowers open wide to expose their stamens and pistils, while bearberry flowers hide theirs. Also, bearberry flowers earlier than cranberry.

Habitat: This circumboreal shrub is found in sandy, well-drained sites in woodlands and open areas.

PlantWatch Pointers: Select a typical patch of plants, if the plants are very abundant, mark off a l-metre-square section to observe.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first flowers open like little pink "lips" at the tip (3 places).


• Mid bloom: when 50% of the flowers on observed plants are open at the tip.

Distribution Map:

This species is monitored in:

• Alberta


• British Culumbia


• Manitoba


• New Brunswick


• Northwest Territories


• Nova Scotia


• Nunavut


• Ontario


• Prince Edward Island


• Quebec


• Saskatchewan


• Yukon

The fruit of the bearberry is a favourite food of bears.