Alpine bearberry, Black bearberry, Alpine manzanita, Amprick
Arctostaphylos alpina

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It is a plant which lies along the ground. It grows 15 cm high. It spread 20 cm wide. The leaves fall off. The twigs are woody. The bark peels off. There can be a mat of dead leaves and plant 90 cm across. The leaves have fine teeth. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are sword shape and turn bright red in autumn. The flowers hang down and are white or pink. The fruit are red berries which turn black when ripe. They are 6 mm across. See Arctous alpina

There are about 60 Arctostaphylos species. In The Plant List the correct name in Arctous alpina (L.) Nied.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows in the Arctic. It grows in sandy heath and rocky locations. It always grows on acidic rocks. It is cold hardy. It grows in hardiness zones 1-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Arctic, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Finland, North America, Russia, Scandinavia, USA

How it is used for food

They are juicy and edible but have an unpleasant taste. They are best cooked with sugar and eaten with other berries. The flavour improves with cooking.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kavlak, Kavlagpak

Synonyms

Arctous alpina Spreng.; Arctiostaphylus alpinus;