Bloomipedia
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Photo: Charlie O'Brien via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Native in the lower 48

Bearberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 8 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

34states
8of our state lists
18,920U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant species of the genus Arctostaphylos widely distributed across circumboreal regions of the subarctic Northern Hemisphere. Kinnikinnick is a common name in Canada and the United States. Growing up to 30 centimetres in height, the leaves are evergreen. The flowers are white to pink and the fruit is a red berry.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 34 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,889 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #29 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,433 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #68 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,196 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #85 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist

Bearberry gift ideas

Handmade bearberry gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Bearberry art print

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,352 records)
Bloom time in each of our 8 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeApril–June3,889
MichiganNativeMay–June2,433
WashingtonNativeApril–June2,196
MassachusettsNativeApril–May1,990
MontanaNativeMay–June1,321
AlaskaNativeMay–June596
WyomingNativeApril–July432
South DakotaNativeMay–June311

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SX), IA (S1), IL (S1), MD (S1), NE (S1), OH (SH), PA (S1), VA (S1), WV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The berries are edible.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bearberry in 34 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Baca, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Conejos, Custer, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Routt, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Berrien, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Huron, Iosco, Iron, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

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Sources