Bear berry, Kinnikinick, Brawlins, Bear's grape, Creashak, Mountain box, Mealy bearberry, Stoneberry, Mlivnjak
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

It is a shrub. It normally lies along the ground. It often cascades over rocks and walls. It forms mats. It grows 10 cm high and spreads 50 cm wide. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are paddle shaped. They are thick and shiny and 12-25 mm long. The leaves are dark green. The leaves turn red in autumn. The flowers are almost round and in small clusters. They droop. They are dull pink. The fruit are green berries. They turn red as they ripen.

There are about 50 Arctostaphylos species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in the colder regions of the northern hemisphere. It grows in sandy and rocky soils. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Andorra, Arctic, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Central America, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Guatemala, Iceland, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Scandinavia, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The dried fruit are used for tea. The fruit can also be cooked and eaten. They are used for preserves or made into jelly, marmalade, sauces and pastes. The ripe fruit can be soaked in water or butter to reduce the dryness. The dried leaves are used for tea. Caution: Too many fruit can cause stomach problems and should not be eaten by pregnant women.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings. It needs an acid soil of pH 5.

Plants are best harvested after the first frost which sweetens them. They can be left to lie all winter under the snow.

Its other names

Local names

Boixerola, Garrolla, Gayuba, Leesikad, Milicw, Mjolbaer, Siaphol, Toloknianka, Vednozeleni gornik

Synonyms

Arctostaphylos officinalis;