Other Names:  Kinnikinik

Description:

A high quality groundcover for poor sandy or acidic soils, forms a thick carpet of green with interesting, glossy, thick rounded leaves; very dainty pink flowers in winter and large, showy red berries in summer through fall

Ornamental Features

San Bruno Mountain Bearberry features dainty nodding pink bell-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from mid winter to early spring. It has attractive forest green evergreen foliage which emerges red in spring. The glossy round leaves are highly ornamental and remain forest green throughout the winter. It features an abundance of magnificent red berries from mid summer to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

San Bruno Mountain Bearberry is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

San Bruno Mountain Bearberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

San Bruno Mountain Bearberry will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have sandy, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.