Coastal BC Plants: Kinnikinnick

Kinnikinnick

A common native plant seen covering rocky cliffs, gravel forest roads, and rugged open slash areas is the low growing shrub Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), also known as Common Bearberry. It has small dark green leathery egg-shaped leaves. Plants cluster together forming large mats. In late spring, they have pinkish bell-shaped flowers on short stalks. From summer to fall, bright red berries appear. 

Leaves from the Kinnikinnick plant were used by First Nations peoples for its diuretic properties and for urinary tract infections. In the cultivated garden, it serves as a drought resistant ground cover plant. The berries are edible (according to some sources), but not commonly used except by forest creatures. -- Margy

References: Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon (Lone Pine Publishing, 1994) and E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia.