Bearberry vs Cloudberry - TreeTime.ca

Bearberry vs Cloudberry

Rubus chamaemorus

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Cloudberry
Bearberry

Cloudberry produces berries which taste tart and tangy with a sweet, floral hint. The berries have a creamy texture when overripe. They are often used to make jams, juices, and liquors. The berries are a pale red colour and when ripe turn more orange/amber. They do not grow very tall, generally reaching only 10-25 cm.

Cloudberry has distinct male and female plants. In order to produce berries, both must be present and pollinate with each other. Berries are produced at maturity, typically 5-7 years, and produce 1 berry per stem. The plant spreads naturally as they grow using modified underground stems (rhizomes), forming more plants over time in the same area.

This plant can be found wild in Canada’s boreal forest. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this plant is known as the Bakeapple and is a significant regional food. Similarly the Côte-Nord region of Quebec also has a long history of using this berry.

Note: Cloudberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 3.5 and 5.0. Also sensitive to salt and dry conditions.

Note: Our seedlings are grown from seed and are too young to identify their sex.

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.

Cloudberry Quick Facts

Bearberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 1b
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: orange, yellow
Berries: irregular, yellow to orange
Berries: small red berries
Harvest: September to October.
Flowers: white
Flowers: small, purple-white
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium




Other Names: baked apple berry, cloud berry
Other Names: kinnikinnick, mealberry, sandberry