Bearberry
R.A. Howard @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
G.A. Cooper @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2: 693.
Names: Kinnikinnick/Bearberry (English); Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Latin); Engages Sacacommis (French)
Other Common Names: Uva-ursi, Bear’s Grape, Mt. Box
Habitat and Origin: Native to North Idaho but have a circumpolar distribution on low to alpine elevations. Frequently found on the edge of forest clearing or near rocky beds.
Characteristics: Ground hugging, mat forming shrub with bright green, leathery, oval, evergreen leaves. The bark is thin and easily pealed. Has white-pink urn shaped flowers in the spring.
Edible Portion: Red berries.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Grows best in sandy, well drained soils with lots of sunlight
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Aboriginal Peoples Uses: Often dried and stored for winter use in soups. The leaves were dried and crushed to smoke with tobacco or boiled and used for tea. The tea was used medicinally as a tonic or diuretic and can be used for kidney or bladder infections. An ash-grey dye may be obtained from the plant and it can be used for the tanning of leather.