Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is commonly called bearberry or kinnikinnick. It is a mat-forming evergreen shrub found across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Bearberry spreads as a low, evergreen groundcover rather than growing into a tall shrub. Its circumpolar distribution reflects its adaptation to cool regions across three continents.

Bearberry has been used medicinally since antiquity, especially in traditional remedies associated with the urinary tract. Indigenous peoples of North America also historically smoked kinnikinnick, so traditional use does not automatically establish modern medical safety.

Yes, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is an evergreen shrub with leaves that remain through the year. Its low, mat-forming habit makes it visually different from upright deciduous shrubs such as Potentilla fruticosa.