Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Bearberry has little white urn-shaped flowers that attract long-tongued bees, the specialist bee Andrena cristata (Johnson and Colla, 2023) and it is the host plant to Brown Elfin, Hoary Elfin, and 15 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). The fruits of this small shrub are eaten by a number of birds and small mammals, especially during the winter and early spring (illinoiswildflower.info) (audubon.org). Bearberry has attractive flowers, fruits, and foliage throughout the year and it is generally avoided by deer and is slightly toxic to livestock.
Photo credit: Matt Levin
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial sun
Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry
Height: 2-8 inches
Plant Spacing:
Bloom Time: June-July
Bloom Color: White
Advantages: Pollinator Favorite, Deer Resistant
Host Plant: Brown Elfin, Hoary Elfin, and 15 other species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Andrena cristata (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
Complementary Plants: Wild Columbine, Creeping Juniper, Little Bluestem
