Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
General: Trailing evergreen shrub, up to 10 cm tall; often forming mats.
Leaves & Twigs:
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.
- 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.
This species is monitored in:
- British Culumbia
- New Brunswick
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
The fruit of the bearberry is a favourite food of bears.