* Kinnikinnick – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (ark-toe-STAF-il-ohs oo-vah-ER-see)

Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Native to: Higher latitudes of Northern Hemisphere. In CA, central & northern coast, Sierras; dry

open slopes, dunes, forest openings, often on sandy/rocky soils; chaparral, coniferous forests.

Growth characteristics: spreading woody shrub mature height: < 1 ft. mature width: 3-15 ft.

Evergreen woody shrub, with low, spreading mat-like habit. Leaves are small (< 1 inch), rounded

dark green and leathery. Leaf color may become more red in winter. Attractive, formal-looking.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, usually Mar-May. Fragrant flowers are small, pink-white and

urn-shaped – similar to manzanita flowers. Flower clusters are quite attractive. Bright red berries

ripen in summer, then persist through fall and winter. Showy berries are edible when cooked with

sweetners – make nice jam, jelly and sauces.

Uses in the garden: Usually used as a low groundcover. Good for erosion control on sandy banks,

along roadways, growing over rock walls, in rock gardens and on parking strips. Fine under oaks

and tolerates seaside conditions. A hardy, tough plant. Dried leaves used world-wide as medicine

for bladder & kidney infections. Native Americans also smoked the leaves like tobacco. Leaves and

berries can be used for natural dyes. Cultivars: ‘Green Supreme’ – bright green, low; ‘Point Reyes’ –

low & dense foliage; ‘Radiant’ – dense foliage; ‘Woods Compact’ – more bush-like.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native evergreen groundcovers like Cotoneaster, English Ivy, Vinca.

Attracts: Songbirds eat the fruit all winter; hummingbirds & insects like the nectar. Deer browse.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun only on immediate coast; best in part-shade, but can take full shade.

Soil Well-drained soils (sandy or rocky best); can take acidic soils (under pines).

Water Fairly drought-tolerant once established. Looks best in Zone 2-3; takes Zone 3.

Don’t over-water – can be susceptible to fungal diseases.

Fertilizer Fine in nutrient poor soils; an organ mulch would work well.

Other Not a good choice for very hot gardens.

Management: Easy to grow in well-drained soils. Prune after flowering if needed. Mulch and

weed, particularly when establishing. Resents root disturbance. Slow-growth; long-lived.

Propagation: from seed: required treatment by cuttings: easy from tip cuttings in fall

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 6, 8-11, 13, 14, 20, 24, 25, 27 2/7/10 * Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co. © Project SOUND