The bearberry has become rare in Germany and is strictly protected. To use the leaves for medicinal purposes, you can plant them in your garden.
Their evergreen foliage enhances the garden all year round and is sometimes accompanied by pretty flowers and berries. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is also of great value as a forage plant for bumblebees. Here we show how to plant, care for and use the undemanding plant.
Bearberry: origin and characteristics
The Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) or Evergreen Bearberry is distributed 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 be up to 120 years old under 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 ovoid, 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 for the water supply.
Naturally growing bearberry is considered endangered and therefore protected by law. Other names for it are urinary weed, sand berry or cranberry, although it does not belong to the cranberry species group.
Tip: Bearberry contains tannins that are found in many medicinal plants. In the Bärentrauben, the salary is so high that you canLeaves used to tan leather.
Planting and care
Like the related peat myrtle (Gaultheria mucronata) as well as bell heather (Erica tetralix) and cranberry (Vaccinium vitis- idaea), which also belong to the heather family, bearberry prefers acidic soil. 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 requirements of bearberry, mix acidic substrate such as our Plantura organic acidic soil into the soil. 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. For sowing, however, autumn is recommended, since the bearberry is a cold germ. A distance of about 40 cm between the bearberries should be maintained.
Tip: Because of their 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 easy to care for. After planting and in the pot, it should be watered occasionally. Larger specimens grown in the garden usually do not need any additional water.
The bearberry hardly needs even regular fertilizer application. For potted plants, it is sufficient to work a little acidifying fertilizer such as our Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer into the soil in autumn or when repotting. It is ideal for ericaceous plants and their soil and contains all the important nutrients.
The low habit of the plant makes it unnecessary to prune the bearberry. If there are disturbing, old or dead branches, these 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. Therethe excretion of the substance takes place via the kidneys, the urinary tract is basically slightly 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 basic urine, you should eat lots of fruit and vegetables and fewer animal products.
Grape Fruits
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?
The 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.
You can find out everything you need to know about the origin, cultivation and use of blueberries in our related article.