Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, more commonly known as Bearberry or medicinal bush, is a low-lying, evergreen shrub that thrives in harsh climates and well-drained, or dry, soils. Covering the ground and rocks with a tangle of stems, bearberry creates beautiful green cascades and stunning crimson carpets that turn bright red in autumn and winter. In late spring, bunches of small white-pink bells bloom, followed by decorative, red, edible berries that are enjoyed by humans as well as many birds and mammals. In the garden, it just needs well-drained soil without limestone. It works well in rock gardens, forming beautiful living tapestries above walls and delighting young and old with its taste.

Bearberry is a plant of the ericaceae family, closely related to blueberries and strawberry trees. It is widespread in lowland areas of countries located at very high latitudes, just below the polar circle. Further south, this species survives at higher altitudes, away from the heat. This undershrub generally grows between rocks, in dry, poor, and acidic soils, or in siliceous-rich alluvial soils.

It is a low-growing and slow-spreading ground cover plant, reaching a height of no more than 25 cm (9.8 in) but able to spread over 1 metre as its prostrate branches with reddish-brown bark easily root upon contact with the ground. The branches bear evergreen foliage, shiny green on top and almost white on the underside. The leaves are simple, thick, leathery, entire, and ovate, 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 in) long. They will turn bronze or intense red depending on the intensity of the cold. The flowers are attractive to bees and appear in May-June, in small hanging clusters of white flowers with a pink calyx resembling small bells. After pollination, round berries like grapes form, initially green, turning bright red and becoming highly decorative when ripe. Their texture is somewhat floury, and they have no great flavour, but they are rich in vitamins. They can be eaten raw, used in pastries, or made into jam.

This extremely cold-resistant shrub easily adapts to garden conditions, in any exposure, in non-limestone and well-drained soil. With its dense foliage and neat appearance, bearberry makes an excellent ground cover, valuable for adorning rock gardens, retaining walls, the edge of a well-drained path, or large slopes where it effectively retains soil and slows erosion. It doesn't suffer from pests and diseases and it tolerates pruning well, allowing its growth to be easily controlled. It can be combined with plants that appreciate the same growing conditions: in the sun, lithodora, wall bellflowers, aubrietas, and snow-in-summer, or in the shade, Waldsteinia ternata, periwinkles, geranium macrorrhizum, violets, and many others.

Properties:

Bearberry is also a medicinal plant, used since the Middle Ages for its diuretic and antiseptic properties in urinary tract infections.