Bearberry: Plants, Effect & Use

Bearberry has become rare in Germany and is strictly protected. To use the leaves for medicinal purposes, you can plant them in your own garden.

Its evergreen foliage beautifies the garden all year round and is sometimes accompanied by pretty flowers and berries. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) a great value as a fodder plant. Here we show how to plant, care for and use the undemanding plant.

Bearberry: origin and properties

The True Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) or evergreen bearberry is found in the northern hemisphere and belongs to the heather family (Ericaceae). It grows as a dwarf shrub and reaches heights of up to 50 cm, but usually stays slightly smaller at around 25 cm. The perennial plant can live up to 120 years in good conditions, but grows very slowly. They are more likely to be found in southern locations in the mountains, in the north also at lower altitudes. Several specimens together can form carpets or mats that cover the entire floor.

The bearberry leaves are ovate, leathery-rough and smooth or hairy depending on age. On the surface they are shiny green, underneath you can see leaf veins arranged like a net. The shoots of the leaves can be more or less hairy. From March, bell-shaped flowers are formed, which are arranged in racemes and are white to bright pink-red in color. In August, the spherical stone fruits appear, which shine red and look like berries. The roots of the bearberry reach quite deep at one meter and are therefore helpful in the water supply.

Naturally growing bearberry is considered endangered and therefore protected by law. Other names for them are urinary weed, sand berry or cranberry, although they do not belong to the species group of cranberries belongs.

Tip: Bearberry contains tannins that are found in many medicinal plants. In the bearberry, the content is so high that the leaves were used to tan leather in the past.

planting and tending

Like the related peat myrtle (Gaultheria mucronata) as bell heather (Erica tetralix) and cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), which also belong to the heather family, bearberry prefers acidic soils. The location should also be sunny to slightly shady and dry to fresh, the substrate should be permeable and rather nutrient-poor. To meet the demands of bearberry, mix acidic substrate such as ours Plantura Organic Acid Soil in the ground. It is specially composed for plant species that need an acidic environment to grow well. If the garden soil is very clay-rich, i.e. heavy, sand must also be mixed in for better permeability. You can plant bearberry all year round. As a rule, spring is the best time, as the plant then has time to grow vigorously until winter. However, autumn is recommended for sowing, since the bearberry a cold germinator is. A distance of about 40 cm between the bearberries should be maintained.

Tip: Due to the flat growth and mat formation, bearberries are often used as ground cover. Two to three plants per square meter are sufficient for this.

The bearberry is very undemanding in terms of care. After planting and in the pot, it should be watered occasionally. Larger specimens grown in the garden usually do not need additional water.
The bearberry hardly needs even regular fertilizers. For potted plants, it is sufficient to use a little acidifying fertilizer like ours in autumn or when repotting Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer to incorporate into the ground. It is ideal for ericaceous plants and their soil and contains all the important nutrients.

The low stature of the plant makes it unnecessary to prune the bearberry. If there are disturbing, old or dead branches, they can easily be removed.

Harvest, Effect and Use of Bearberry

Bearberry leaves have been used medicinally for a long time and the berries are also edible. The substance arbutin in particular is responsible for the antiseptic effect of the plant. Bearberry leaves help with bladder infections and urinary tract infections. The arbutin is converted in the body to hydroquinone, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. Since the substance is excreted via the kidneys, the urinary tract is basically easily disinfected.

Bearberry Leaves

Only the leaves of the bearberry are used in medicine because they contain the active ingredients. It can be harvested from the evergreen plant all year round. It is better to harvest young leaves, as they contain less tannin. A bearberry leaf tea, for example, helps against cystitis. The bearberry leaves unfold their best effect with a cold extract. To do this, leave the dried leaves in cold water overnight. A hot infusion works as well, but tastes more bitter and releases more tannins, which can irritate the stomach. Bearberry leaf tea should not be consumed for longer than one week at a time and a total of five weeks a year, otherwise the dosage will be too high.

Tip: The antiseptic effect of bearberry leaves is stronger in alkaline urine than in acidic urine. For more alkaline urine, lots of fruit and vegetables and fewer animal products should be consumed.

fruits of the berry cluster

The bearberry fruits are not used medicinally but are edible. They taste slightly bitter and have a floury consistency. Since they taste sweeter after cooking, you can make delicious jellies and jams by adding sugar. The red fruits of the bearberry are harvested between September and October.

Is bearberry poisonous or edible?

Bearberry is not poisonous. However, if consumed in excess, it can cause stomach problems. For safety, bearberry leaves are not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or for children. The same applies to pets: bearberry is edible and only problematic in large quantities.

Everything important to Origin, cultivation and use of blueberries see our related article.