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Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Shrubs

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a slow-growing shrub, hardy in USDA zones 2-6, that matures to about 6-12 in × 3-6 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, sandy and acidic soil. Expect white and pink blooms in spring.

USDA zones
2-6
Sun
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Low
Mature size
6-12 in × 3-6 ft
Spacing
2-3 feet
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage
Green, Bronze
Bloom color
White, Pink
Bloom season
Spring
Native to
North America, Circumboreal

In the landscape

GroundcoverSlopeRock gardenDrought tolerantNative

Data sources

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Bearberry is hardy to about -50°F (estimated from USDA zone 2), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

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