Zones 3-8; Sun to light shade; Sandy, acidic, well drained soil; Ht. 3-8 in.

This is a good groundcover. Uva-ursi means literally berry of bear. It forms fast-creeping mats of glossy leaves that are deep green in summer and bronze-red in winter. Bearberry will survive heat and humidity provided there is good drainage. The flowers are light pink and bloom in Spring. The fruits are large, 3/8 inches, bright to dark red. The fruit is eaten mainly by mammals. Bearberry is a food plant for the larvae of the northern zigzag fritillary(Boloria freija) and hoary and brown elfins(Callophrys polios and C. augustus).Pick berries that are fully red and enjoy fresh or dried. They are drought, wind and salt tolerant once established. Never fertilize.