Bearberry
• Native Bearberry forms a dense, attractive groundcover, even in difficult spots in the garden
• Tolerating poor, sandy, and infertile soils, Bearberry is perfect for rock gardens, bare spots, and slopes
• Dainty, pink-tinged flowers bloom in spring, followed by bright red berries in summer
• Birds and other wildlife love the berries, and several species of butterflies use Bearberry as a host plant
• Deer resistant and drought tolerant
Description
Native throughout the boreal regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, Bearberry is a beloved groundcover with a long history of human use. One of its most popular common names, Kinnikinnick, comes from an Algonquin term for "smoking mixture" as it was used by some indigenous peoples in lieue of tobacco.
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), forms a dense, attractive groundcover that is somewhat evergreen. The dark green foliage turns bronze in winter and greens up in spring.
One plant can eventually form a dense carpet up to 6' feet wide once established, so make sure you have room for it to spread! It will tolerate a wide range of well-draining soils, almost everything except clay, and never needs fertilization.
Bearberry is the larval host plant for several species of butterflies including the Hoary Elfin, the Brown Elfin, and the Freija Fritillary.
