Bearberry vs Northern Red Currant - TreeTime.ca

Bearberry vs Northern Red Currant

Ribes triste

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Northern Red Currant
Bearberry

The Northern Red Currant is also known as the Swamp Red currant due to its preference for moist soil. As long as the soil is wet, this shrub can live in any degree of sunlight.

The currant itself is a bright red-purple berry enjoyed by many animals and some people for its sour flavour, similar to garden red currants. The flowers of this shrub are tiny and red or greenish-purple.

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.

Northern Red Currant Quick Facts

Bearberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 1b
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Spread: 0.8 m (2.5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: leathery, evergreen
Flowers: reddish or greenish purple
Flowers: small, purple-white
Berries: shiny, sour, bright red
Berries: small red berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: swamp red currant
Other Names: kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry