Bearberry vs Bog Birch - TreeTime.ca

Bearberry vs Bog Birch

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Betula pumila

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Bearberry
Bog Birch

Bearberry is a dwarf shrub known for its creamy pink flowers and red edible fruits.

It is great as a filler in gardens and flowerbeds in place of invasive ground cover plants, like English Ivy.

Bearberry will attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your property. It is one of the top 12 plants recommended by the Alberta Native Bee Council to support pollinators.

Dwarf Birch, also known as Bog Birch for its common occurrence in wet areas, is a small deciduous shrub native to North America.

Found growing up into the arctic circle, this is one of the few trees that grows that far north.

Common in riparian zones and boreal forests across Western Canada. It is a common reclamation species.

This species is often used by local artisans to twist into shapes like willow and make decorative hearts, circles, etc.

Bearberry Quick Facts

Bog Birch Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Foliage: leathery, evergreen
Fall colour: red-orange
Flowers: small, purple-white
Berries: small red berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry
Other Names: dwarf birch, low birch, scrub birch, swamp birch