Common Name: Bearberry

General Information

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is an evergreen, prostrate or mat-forming shrub, producing extensive trailing stems that root at the dobes, and growing from 10 - 50cm tall[, ].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use and trade as a medicinal herb. It is also harvested locally as a food and a source of materials. It is sometimes grown for medicinal use and also as an ornamental in the garden, where it can be used as a ground cover. The plant also has value for stabilizing soils and recolonizing poor and burnt-over soils.

Known Hazards

This plant is best not used by pregnant women since it can reduce the supply of blood to the foetus[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Circumpolar, it is also found further south at higher elevations (to California and Virginia in America, Spain and Greece in Europe)

Habitat

Coastal dunes, open, acidic temperate and boreal forests, high montane on acidic, sandy, or rocky soils; at elevations up to 3,100 metres[]. Dry open woods, often on gravelly or sandy soils[]. It is found on limestone in the European Alps.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.10 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[, , ]. One report says that this species succeeds in alkaline soils[] (a rather surprising comment considering the general needs of the genus - it is more likely that the plant can grow on limestone so long as the soil remains acid[]).Fairly shade tolerant[] but plants produce less fruit when they are grown in the shade[]. Prefers a cool damp position.
Good fruit and seed crops occur every 1 - 5 years[].
A very ornamental plant, there are a number of named varieties developed for their ornamental interest[]. The form 'Massachusetts' is an especially prostrate, free-flowering and free-fruiting form[]. 'Anchor Bay', 'Point Reyes' and 'Vulcan's Peak' have all been mentioned as good groundcover forms[].
Most populations lack burls and are killed by fire; throughout the range in North America are occasional populations or individuals that have small, sometimes epicormic burls - these are able to resprout after fire[].
This is one of the first plants to colonize bare and rocky ground and burnt over areas[]. It is often an indicator of poor soils in the wild[].
The plant is relatively insensitive to the effects of sulphur dioxide gas. Concentrations of heavy metals due to air pollution have been determined for fruit, stems, and leaves[].
Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[, ].
Hybridizes with other members of this genus, especially Arctostaphylos columbiana (to produce Arctostaphylos x media), and with Arctostaphylos patula[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. Insipid, dry and mealy[, , ], it becomes sweeter when cooked[]. Added to stews etc, it is a good source of carbohydrates[]. The fruit can also be used to make a cooling drink or used for preserves etc[, ]. It can be dried and stored for later use[]. The globose fruit is about 6 - 12mm in diameter[, ].

A tea is made from the dried leaves[, ].

Medicinal

Bearberry was commonly used by many native North American Indian tribes to treat a wide range of complaints and has also been used in conventional herbal medicine for hundreds of years, it is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics[]. The leaves contain hydroquinones and are strongly antibacterial, especially against certain organisms associated with urinary infections[]. The plant should be used with caution, however, because hydroquinones are also toxic[].

The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, lithontripic, hypnotic and tonic[, , , , , , ]. The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[]. A tea made from the dried leaves is much used for kidney and bladder complaints and inflammations of the urinary tract such as acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis, but it should be used with caution and preferably only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[, , , , , ]. The tea is more effective if the urine is alkaline, thus it is best used in combination with a vegetable-based diet[].
Externally, a poultice of the infused leaves with oil has been used as a salve to treat rashes, skin sores etc, and as a wash for a baby's head[]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an eyewash, a mouthwash for cankers and sore gums and as a poultice for back pains, rheumatism, burns etc[].
The dried leaves have been used for smoking as an alternative to tobacco[]. One report says that it is unclear whether this was for medicinal purposes or for the intoxicated state it could produce[], whilst another says that the leaves were smoked to treat headaches and also as a narcotic[].

The herb should not be prescribed to children, pregnant women or patients with kidney disease[]. Another report says that some native North American Indian tribes used an infusion of the stems, combined with blueberry stems (Vaccinium spp) to prevent miscarriage without causing harm to the baby, and to speed a woman's recovery after the birth[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground-cover for steep sandy banks in a sunny position[, ] or in light shade[]. A carpeting plant, growing fairly fast and carpeting as it spreads[]. It is valuable for checking soil erosion on watersheds[].
It is very useful in erosion control plantings and is also rather attractive when used along highway embankments[].
Within its native range, it is recommended for revegetation projects on well-drained soils[]. Its potential is better
as a long-term revegetative species than as a short-term revegatative species because its growth rate is moderate[].
This is also a pioneer plant in the wild, often being the first plant to colonize burnt-over areas, especially on poor soils[]. It is an integral part of succession on dry, stable, sand dunes in the Great Lakes and along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of N. America[].
It is often considered to be an indicator of poor soils in the wild[].

Other Uses

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves[, ], it does not require a mordant[].
A grey-brown dye is obtained from the fruit[].

The dried fruits are used in rattles and as beads on necklaces etc[, ].

The leaves are a good source of tannin[, , ].

The mashed berries can be rubbed on the insides of coiled cedar root baskets in order to waterproof them[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Arctostaphylos seeds, especially if not sown fresh, are generally stimulated into germinating by one of two methods. The most effective is fire passing quickly over seeds that are lying dormant in the soil - this breaks down their surface coat allowing them to imbibe moisture when it next rains and then germinate. Alternatively, stomach acids act upon the seed coat when the fruit is eaten by various animals - the seed frequently passes through the gut unharmed and is deposited in a convenient pile of nutrients when the animal defecates - the seed will often still benefit from a period of winter cold before germinating in the spring. Both of these methods can be somewhat reproduced by the gardener - the seed can be placed under some straw which is then set alight - both seeds and ashes should be sown. Alternatively, pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water will have somewhat the same effect as stomach acids. Follow this treatment with a cold stratification at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[, ]. The seed will then usually germinate in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots, being very careful no to damage the roots, and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter, Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, late summer to early winter in a frame. The cuttings are very slow and can take a year to root[, ].
Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively.
Layering of long branches in early spring[, ].