Bearberry

Bearberry    Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Miskomin 
Kinnikinnick
 
Common Name: Bearberry
Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Type: Evergreen groundcover shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Moisture: Dry to moderately moist, well-drained soils
Height: 10–20 cm (4–8 in)
Spread: Up to 1.5 m (5 ft)
Soil: Sandy, rocky, or acidic soils
Habitat: Open pine forests, rock outcrops, dunes, and roadsides
 
It’s important to recognize that Ontario is home to many distinct Indigenous nations, each with its own language and traditions. Therefore, there isn’t a single “native name” for Bearberry, but several, depending on the language group.
In Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), Bearberry is often called Miskomin (“red berry” or “bear berry”), or sometimes Wiingashk, which can refer to aromatic plants or the kinnikinnick mixture.
Another related term is Gikinikkiinick, referring to the sacred smoking mixture that may include Bearberry leaves among other herbs.
 
Ecological Value:
Miskomin provides year-round soil stabilization and habitat structure, particularly valuable in erosion-prone or nutrient-poor sites. Its flowers attract native pollinators in spring, while the berries sustain birds and mammals.
 
Miskomin  is a hardy, low-growing evergreen that forms dense mats of glossy green foliage. 
This species is adapted to some of the harshest conditions nature offers — thriving in poor, sandy, or acidic soils where few others survive. Its deep, fibrous roots help stabilize slopes and control erosion, making it ideal for roadsides, sandy banks, and exposed rocky sites.
 
🌍 Ecological and Climate Adaptation

Miskomin is perfectly suited for Ontario’s increasingly Mediterranean-like seasonal pattern — dry summers and wet winters — conditions that mirror its native range from the Arctic tundra to dry pine barrens. As southern Ontario trends toward hotter, drier summers and wetter winters, Miskomin  stands out as a model species for climate-resilient landscapes.
By retaining its evergreen leaves year-round and tolerating both drought and frost, it continues photosynthesis when others go dormant — feeding pollinators in spring and stabilizing soil through the winter freeze-thaw cycle.  
 

Planting to Protect 🌱 Restoring to Thrive 🌱 Origin Native Plants 🌱