Scientific name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Family: ERICACEAE
Common names: “Kinnikinnick”
Plant Type:Evergreen shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 4-7
Light: Full sun – part shade
Exposure: Exposed or sheltered
Soil: Poor rocky – average acidic soil
Moisture: Dislikes humidity, drought tolerant
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 6″ W 1-2′ , mat forming
Leaf and Stem shape: New shoots are flushed with red with simple rounded spoon shaped leaves
Flower: Small, pink flowers in summer followed by red berries in autumn
Pruning: None required, can be shaped and cut back anytime
Maintenance: Low, only plant in places with the right conditions!
Landscape use: Cascade over walls and rocks, erosion control, container plant, groundcover
Propagate: By layering and cuttings
Pests & Disease: Leaf gall, rust, prone to fungal diseases in humid conditions
*Bears and birds will eat the berries, Deer resistant
Comments: Native to the Pacific Northwest, “Overused and overplanted” , can be very nice when well grown but when badly grown they can be just awful, edible fruit but not considered palatable
