Bearberry vs Hardy Banana - TreeTime.ca

Bearberry vs Hardy Banana

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Musa basjoo

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Bearberry
Hardy Banana

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.

The Hardy Banana is a fast-growing evergreen perennial that dies down to the ground each year. A stunning tropical-looking accent for your yard and patio, the Japanese Fiber Banana can be overwintered outdoors in several northern U.S. states and southern Canadian regions. In northern regions, you can bring this plant inside and leave it in your garage. If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, you can use the leaves to make tamales.

Bearberry Quick Facts

Hardy Banana Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 5a
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 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: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: leathery, evergreen
Flowers: small, purple-white
Flowers: large cream to yellow
Fruit: Large inedible
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
Other Names: kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry
Other Names: japanese banana, japanese fibre banana