Bearberry vs Northern Red Currant - TreeTime.ca

Bearberry vs Northern Red Currant

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Ribes triste

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Bearberry
Northern Red Currant

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.

Note:This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Bearberry seeds at SeedTime.ca.

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 Quick Facts

Northern Red Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 1a
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.8 m (2.5 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: small red berries
Berries: shiny, sour, bright red
Flowers: small, purple-white
Flowers: reddish or greenish purple
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none




Other Names: kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry
Other Names: swamp red currant