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Submit a photoBearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
maskomin(Plains Cree)
Also called Kinnikinnick — a mat-forming evergreen groundcover of sandy and rocky Alberta woodlands and alpine tundra. Small leathery leaves, small pink urn-shaped flowers, and bright red berries persisting through winter. The Algonquian name 'kinnikinnick' referred to a smoking mixture of bearberry leaves with tobacco and other herbs used in ceremony and trade across Turtle Island.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Boreal, Foothills, Alpine, Zone 1
Light
Full sun to part shade
Bloom Time
May–June; berries persist into winter
Soil
Sandy or rocky, acidic to neutral, sharply drained
Water
Low — very drought-tolerant
Growing & Cultivation
Propagation
Semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer with rooting hormone — slow to root (3–4 months). Layering of low runners in place is easier.
Always verify plant identification with multiple sources before consuming any wild plant. This information is for educational purposes only.
