Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Bearberry

General Information: This low-growing evergreen ground cover spreads slowly to form a dense, broad mat. The small, oval leaves are glossy, vibrant bright green to dark green in summer, changing to bronze or reddish in the fall and winter. The combination of texture and color in the leaves creates a unique ground cover effect of an alternating emerald and ruby carpet. Small, whitish-pink, urn-shaped flowers bloom from late April to May, followed by bright red berries in late June and August. While edible, the berries are insipid raw and are of much greater value to wildlife. These plants have a history of medicinal and cultural uses by Indigenous Peoples across their range.

Cultivation Details: These plants are self-fertile. This plant’s habit of growing on and near beaches indicates that they are also quite tolerant of salty soil. Extremely useful for combating erosion, in rock gardens, along seashores, beaches, or other sandy environments, and in thin, rocky, exposed sites. Michael Dirr, in The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, notes that Bearberry has been called “the prettiest, sturdiest, and most reliable ground cover.” Arctostaphylos is a genus of about 50 species of evergreen shrubs that range in size from ground covers to small trees. Most species are native to Western North America (Manzanita Trees) with Bearberry being the only species in this genus found East of the Mississippi River.

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun. Requires well-drained soils. Prospers on infertile, sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil, and should not be fertilized. Does not tolerate moist soil conditions, shade, competition, or foot traffic. Prefers neutral to acidic soil. Cannot tolerate alkaline soils.