# bearberry (*Arctostaphylos uva-ursi*) Bearberry is a small, low-growing plant with shiny green leaves and bright red berries. It's a favorite snack for bears and other animals, making it a special part of the forest. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Bear Grape, Kinnikinnick ![bearberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi_25924.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi_25924.JPG) ## Appearance The bearberry is a low-growing, mat-forming evergreen shrub with small, leathery, dark green leaves that often turn bronzy in winter. It produces tiny, bell-shaped pinkish-white flowers, followed by bright red, shiny berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Arctostaphylos ## Interesting facts - Bearberry flowers are like tiny upside-down bells, perfectly shaped for buzzing bees! - Its Latin name, 'uva-ursi,' means 'grape of the bear' because bears love the berries! - Its berries can stay on the plant all winter, providing food for animals! - Some people brew bearberry leaves into tea for traditional remedies. ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Bearberry can survive very dry, sandy soils because its leathery leaves minimize water loss, keeping it hydrated in harsh conditions. - **Evergreen Power:** Bearberry has tough, evergreen leaves that stay green all year, letting it make food from sunlight even when other plants are sleeping. - **Soil Superhero:** Bearberry spreads its roots wide to hold soil in place, stopping erosion and creating a stable home for itself. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Brown Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — Berries are an important food source for bears. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Buzzes for nectar and helps fertilize flowers. - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds enjoy the persistent red berries, spreading seeds. ## Traits - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking or eating any berries. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bearberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bearberry? 5-30 cm ### How wide does bearberry spread? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on bearberry? 0.5-0.8 cm ### When does bearberry bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is bearberry edible? Yes ### Is bearberry toxic? Mild ### What is bearberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Leadville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leadville-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Pennellville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennellville-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District [View all places to see bearberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bearberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bearberry: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bearberry)