Description
Kinnikinnick
Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Carpet your dry, sunny ground with Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), a hardy evergreen groundcover found throughout British Columbia. Also known as bearberry, it stays green year-round and thrives where little else will grow.
Kinnikinnick is superbly adapted to the dry, sandy, well-drained soils of Interior BC. Its glossy trailing foliage, pink urn-shaped flowers, and bright red berries make it an excellent choice for xeriscapes, slopes, and pollinator plantings.
Growing naturally on dry slopes, rocky outcrops, and open forests, this tough groundcover holds soil in place, resists drought, and provides food and cover for pollinators and wildlife.
Features
- Native to British Columbia and much of Canada
- Evergreen trailing groundcover
- Pink urn-shaped spring flowers
- Bright red berries favoured by wildlife
- Exceptional drought tolerance
- Excellent for slope and erosion control
- Ideal for xeriscape and pollinator plantings
Growing Information
Mature Height: 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in)
Spread: 0.5 to 2 m (1.5 to 6.5 ft)
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: Dry, sandy, well-drained soils
Moisture Requirements: Low
Hardiness Zone: 2 to 7
Ecological Benefits
Kinnikinnick’s early flowers feed native bees and other pollinators, and its berries provide winter food for birds, bears, and small mammals. Its dense evergreen mat stabilizes dry slopes and resists erosion. This species is valuable for xeriscaping, pollinator habitat, and slope restoration.
Please note: As a native plant, size and appearance may vary depending on the season and stage of growth.
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