Bearberry - Plant

Bearberries are three species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos. Unlike the other species of Arctostaphylos, they are adapted to Arctic and Subarctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution.

Common name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Color: dark
Bloom time: April to May
Height: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Difficulty level: easy to grow

Planting & Care
If you have a large plot of poor soil and need to landscape it, then bearberry ground cover is your plant. It thrives on soil poor in nutrients and sandy soil that has a hard time supporting other ground covers.

Sunlight: Full Sun to part shade

Soil: well-drained soil

Water: Dry to medium

Temprature: 70 to 100 degrees

Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer

Care:

• Bearberry Cotoneasters need about an inch of water each week, with an increase to 1 1/2 inches a week during hot, dry weather.
• An inch of rain equals 2 gallons per plant, which you may also supply by watering for half an hour with a sprinkler.

Special Feature:
Moderate to large scale ground cover with year round interest. Helps control soil erosion on slopes and hillsides.
Use
Medicinal use:

• The name "bearberry" for the plant derives from the edible fruit which is a favorite food of bears.
• The fruit, also called bearberries, are edible and are sometimes gathered as food for humans.
• The leaves of the plant are used in herbal medicine.

Ornamental use:

• As limitations on water used by container nurseries become commonplace, nurseries will have to improve irrigation management.
• Several ways to conserve water and improve on the management of irrigation water applied to container plants are discussed in this review.

Note:
for medicinal use, please consult appropriate doctor / physian befor use.

Reference:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ http://gardening.yardener.com/ http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/