Practical
Plants

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Arctostaphylos genus in the family Ericaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
0.1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is best not used by pregnant women since it can reduce the supply of blood to the foetus[10].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[25][32][34][31][7][24]. Insipid, dry and mealy[27][2][13], it becomes sweeter when cooked[20]. Added to stews etc, it is a good source of carbohydrates[2]. The fruit can also be used to make a cooling drink or used for preserves etc[7][13]. It can be dried and stored for later use[24]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[17]. A tea is made from the dried leaves[11][13].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[23]. The leaves contain hydroquinones and are strongly antibacterial, especially against certain organisms associated with urinary infections[22]. The plant should be used with caution, however, because hydroquinones are also toxic[21]. The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, lithontripic, hypnotic and tonic[32][35][19][3][8][10][15]. The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[27]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[27]. 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[27][19][28][10][21][23]. The tea is more effective if the urine is alkaline, thus it is best used in combination with a vegetable-based diet[23]. 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[24]. 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[24]. The dried leaves have been used for smoking as an alternative to tobacco[22]. One report says that it is unclear whether this was for medicinal purposes or for the intoxicated state it could produce[15], whilst another says that the leaves were smoked to treat headaches and also as a narcotic[24]. The herb should not be prescribed to children, pregnant women or patients with kidney disease[22]. 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[24].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Women's complaints

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves[29][2], it does not require a mordant[9]. A grey-brown dye is obtained from the fruit[24]. The dried fruits are used in rattles and as beads on necklaces etc[36][24]. The leaves are a good source of tannin[28][30][20]. The mashed berries can be rubbed on the insides of coiled cedar root baskets in order to waterproof them[24]. A good ground-cover for steep sandy banks in a sunny position[14][17] or in light shade[16]. A carpeting plant, growing fairly fast and carpeting as it spreads[18]. It is valuable for checking soil erosion on watersheds[20]. This is also a pioneer plant in the wild, often being the first plant to colonize burnt-over areas, especially on poor soils[6].

Product or use
Beads
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Waterproofing

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Pioneer

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
Britain. Northern N. America. N. Europe. N. Asia.
Habitat
Dry open woods, often on gravelly or sandy soils[20]. It is also found on sand dunes along the coast[20] and is also found on limestone in the European Alps.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[4][17]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[5]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse 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, August to December in a frame. The cuttings are very slow and can take a year to root[1][33]. 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[17][22].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[25][4][17]. One report says that this species succeeds in alkaline soils[12] (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[K]).Shade tolerant[26] but plants produce less fruit when they are grown in the shade[17]. Prefers a cool damp position. A very ornamental plant, it is sometimes cultivated for its medicinal uses[1]. There are a number of named varieties developed for their ornamental interest[17]. The form 'Massachusetts' is an especially prostrate, free-flowering and free-fruiting form[13]. 'Anchor Bay', 'Point Reyes' and 'Vulcan's Peak' have all been mentioned as good groundcover forms[17]. This is one of the first plants to colonize bare and rocky ground and burnt over areas[6]. It is often an indicator of poor soils in the wild[20]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[4][5]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus, especially A. columbiana.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  8. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  9. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  10. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  12. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  13. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  15. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2

  16. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  17. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  18. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  19. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  20. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  21. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  22. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  23. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  24. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  25. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  26. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩

  27. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  28. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  29. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  30. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  31. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  32. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  33. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  34. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

  35. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

  36. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩

Edit this page