Kinnikinnick • Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
  • Description: Trailing evergreen shrub with bright, leathery green leaves, smooth red stems, white urn-shaped flowers, and attractive red berries.
  • Habitat: Dry open sites, rocky outcrops, and coastal bluffs.
  • Harvest: Harvest and dry the bright green leaves during the growing season.
  • Edibility: Steep the dried leaves in boiling water to make an astringent tea. Leaves are used in smoking blends.
  • Fun Fact: Kinnikinnick is an Algonquin word for tobacco substitute. The latin binomial translates as ‘bear grapes bear grapes’.

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