Bearberry:

The Best Plant Ever!

There are 3 different types of
Bearberry has variable but The bearberry plant is bearberry species: Alpine,
resilient responses to disturbance: commonly known as red and common.
it will spread if a sudden opening the Kinnikinnick in - Alpine: Shrub 10-30 cm
in the canopy occurs, and it Canada and the high, berries are colours dark
regenerates from seeds or scraps United States purple or black and found in
of root after more intensive Northern Canada.
disturbance such as fire. The - Red: Shrub 10-30 cm high,
species recovers well from berries are red and found
occasional physical damage, and along the eastern mountains
survives winters under snowpack. of Canada, and Northern
Quebec.
- Common: the kinnikinnick
plant we know!
The bearberry belongs to
the angiosperm:
Dicotyledon. The plant has Dicots such as the
5 petals, its stem is bearberry have a
covered in bark and fine taproot system,
silky hairs to help it keep meaning their root is
warm. Their stem is made up of a thick root
herbaceous, meaning the with few smaller lateral
stem is also soft and branching roots. The
flexible. The bearberry leaves on the plant have
needs these stable a lathery texture, this is
structures so they can an adaptation to the
survive the winter! cold weather and
tundra.

This plant had many benefits to the

Bearberries grow as low-lying
bushes and these shrubs are
green coloured year round.
They grow at a slow rate, but
can grow to 30cm, spread 3ft
wide and live
for approximately 20 years.
The Kinnikinnick is sacred and Native to
northern Canada. Traditional First
Nations used the plant to make a tea
from the roots to drink and it would
help with a cough and slowing down
menstrual bleeding. It was also
believed the if drunk, it would prevent
miscarriage.
environment and humans.
They have a really good effect on
your skin, such as reducing wrinkles,
evening out skin tone and
diminishes dark spots. Drinking the
tea from the roots the First Nations
introduced can help with kidney and
bladder problems. The bearberry is
a great food for many animals
across Canada such as bears and
deers. Importantly, the plant
provides nectar, attracting
butterflies, bees and other insects.

The bearberry may not be

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is
FLIP TO THE OTHER SIDE a valuable bio resource,
the scientific name for the
FOR SOURCES! but it definitely has its
bearberry!
benefits.

Resources!

TWC staff. 2013-06-21. Arctostaphylos

uva-ursi. Retrieved Nov 6, 2021 from
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result
.php?id_plant=ARUV

Anne Bailey. 2021-05-17. Bearberry Plant

Info: Learn About Growing Bearberry
Ground Cover. Retrieved Nov 6, 2021
from https://www.gardeningknowhow.c
om/ornamental/groundcover/bearberry
/growing-bearberry-plants.htm

Sarah Coulber. Canadian Wildlife

Federation: Bearberry. Retrieved Nov 6,
2021 from https://cwf-
fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/flor
a/bearberry.html

Ben P. 2001. Blue Planet Biomes- Bear

Berry. Retrieved Nov 6, 2021
from https://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/
bear_berry.php