Bearberry

PEI has more than 30 native, wild plants with edible berries, but here’s one of the lesser-known: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).

Bearberry doesn’t compete taste-wise with some of our other wild fruit. Raw, the berries are dry and bland (but that’s probably just as well, because too many raw berries can have a laxative effect). Cooking improves their flavour and texture, and Bearberries make pleasant preserves, interesting additions to soups or stews, and excellent glazes or rubs (especially nice on wild meats). 

Like Rosehips, Cranberries, and Teaberries (aka Wintergreen), Bearberries persist well into the fall and winter and are nicer once the cold weather hits. First Nations people across Canada have long used Bearberry fruit in a variety of ways, including mixing them with animal fat and cooking, or drying and mixing with other berries, dried meat, and rendered fat to make pemmican. 

While the berries are attractive (and yes – eaten by bears!), it’s the leaves that have the most extensive history of human use. Another name for this plant is ‘Kinnikinnick’, a word used by many First Nations to refer to a mixture of dried herbs (which may or may not include Bearberry) used for smoking. Bearberry leaves were included in smoking mixtures to treat headaches and were steeped as tea for kidney and bladder problems. Modern research has confirmed that Bearberry extract is indeed useful for treating urinary tract infections, has anti-bacterial and diuretic properties, and can help relieve menstrual cramps. 

Bearberry leaves are especially high in tannins and arbutin, making them useful in skin care. Tannins may be best known for tanning leather (hence the name) and giving foods like red wine that mouth-drying effect, but they can also reduce skin inflammation and redness, and tighten pores. Arbutin is effective in lightening dark spots on the skin, including scars, birth marks, and age spots. As a result, skincare products with Bearberry extract are widely available to help achieve a more even skin tone, treat acne, relieve skin irritations, and prevent excess oil or dryness.   

While external use of Bearberry hasn’t been associated with any ill-effects, tannins and arbutin can cause stomach and kidney problems when taken internally over extended periods. As a result, Bearberry fruit and leaves should be used in only moderation and avoided altogether by those who are pregnant. 

Bearberry is in the same family as Cranberries and Blueberries (Ericaceae). Like its kin, Bearberry spreads both by seed and vegetatively, and so is often found in large patches. On PEI, I only find it in coastal areas – both sand dunes and under stunted White Spruce (Krummholtz) forest – but it grows in every province and territory in Canada as well as throughout much of the US and Europe, and so can clearly handle a wider range of habitats. 

In addition to being beautiful, edible, and medicinal, Bearberry helps stabilize and enrich soil, supports a range of pollinators, and forms mutually-beneficial relationships with fungi. It’s a valuable member of PEI Untamed!