Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

How fast does it spread?

It is a slow to moderate grower that forms a dense mat over time.

Plant guide

Bearberry.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Pronounced ark-toh-STAF-ih-loss yoo-vuh-ER-see

Also known as Bear-grape, Bearberry, Bearberry Manzanita, Hog-cranberry, Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Mountain-box

Bearberry is a hardy, low growing evergreen shrub that forms a dense mat across the ground. It is famous for its glossy green leaves and bright red berries that persist through the winter. This plant is a fantastic choice for ground cover in rocky or sandy soil.

Another photo of Bearberry — Photo by Simone Littledale (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 7
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Plant this shrub in well draining soil and ensure it gets plenty of sunlight to thrive. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal that the soil is staying too wet. It prefers cool climates and does not like high humidity or heavy clay soils.

Watering: Water deeply until established, then allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Feeding: Apply a light dose of acid loving plant fertilizer once in early spring.
Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and remove dead stems.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound or if you need to refresh the acidic soil mix.
Soil: Sandy or rocky acidic soil
Soil pH: 4.5 to 6.0
Temperature: -40 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth

Safety

People: The leaves contain arbutin, which can be toxic if ingested in significant amounts.
Children: The bright red berries may look tempting to small children, but they are not tasty and should not be eaten.
Contact allergens: The foliage is generally non-irritating, though some sensitive individuals may experience mild skin reactions.
Airborne allergens: It is not considered a significant source of airborne allergens.
Edibility: The berries are technically edible but are mealy, bland, and can cause stomach upset if consumed in large quantities.

How to identify it

Glossy dark green leathery leaves
Small bell shaped white or pink flowers
Bright red round berries
Low growing creeping woody stems

Height: 0.05 to 0.3m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: dark green, bronze, evergreen
Flowers: white, pink, 0.5 to 0.8cm
Fruit: bright red, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Leaf SpotCommon
Root RotCommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
PhytophthoraUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed, layering
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is extremely cold-hardy and requires no special winter protection in its native range.
In containers: It grows well in wide, shallow containers that provide excellent drainage.

Semi-hardwood cuttings

Take 10 cm cuttings in late summer.
Remove lower leaves and dip the base in rooting hormone.
Place in a well-draining sandy mix.
Keep in a bright, cool location until rooted.

Pair this plant with other acid-loving, low-water species to create a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant landscape.

Grows well with

Blueberry · They share similar acidic soil requirements.
Wintergreen · Both are low-growing, acid-loving evergreens.

Similar species

Manzanita · They belong to the same genus but are generally much larger shrubs.

Science

Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Order: Ericales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation: It is not endangered, but wild collection should be avoided to protect local ecosystems.

It is a hardy pioneer species that excels at colonizing barren, sandy, or rocky soils.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides winter food for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: groundcover, rock gardens, erosion control, traditional herbal tea

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 3/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
How fast does it spread?: It is a slow to moderate grower that forms a dense mat over time.

Where the name comes from

Arctostaphylos comes from the Greek words for bear and grape, while uva-ursi is the Latin translation of the same meaning.

Good to know

The name uva-ursi is Latin for bear grape because bears enjoy eating the fruit.
It is a classic choice for stabilizing sandy slopes.
The leaves have been used historically in traditional medicine for urinary health.
It thrives in poor, acidic soils where many other plants struggle.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.