PlantWatch

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Photo by Royal Botanical Gardens

Also known as: kinnikinnick
French name: raison d'ours
Bloom time: April to June
Report for: YK, NT, NU, BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI

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 & Fruit: 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.

Sampling: 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 (three places)
• Mid bloom when 50% of the flowers on observed plants are open at the tip