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The small, bright red berries can be eaten raw or cooked. When eaten raw, these berries are dry, mealy, and almost tasteless. On the other hand, cooking bearberries bring out their natural sweetness, making them taste similar to cranberries. These red berries are great for making jam, preserves, and cool beverages.May 19, 2019

Bearberry is known as Kinnikinnick which is pronounced KINNY-kin-ICK, or Kinn-ICK-innick, and is belived to come from the Alonquin meaning “smoking mixture.” Bearberry comes from its genus Arctostaphylos, from the Greek word for bear – Arktos and staphylos – a bunch of grapes, which its berries resemble.

Kinnikinnick has historically been used for medicinal purposes. It contains the glycoside arbutin, which has antimicrobial properties and acts as a mild diuretic. It has been used for urinary tract complaints, including cystitis and urolithiasis.Nov 5, 2013

Seed Collection: The outer fleshy part of the fruit may be removed by macerating the fruits with water and separating the nutlets by flotation or air-screening. Seed Treatment: Remove seed from pulp. Plant outside in fall, 3/4" deep. Seeds germinate the second year after sowing.

Bearberry is used for:

Aiding in urination and preventing the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract.It has also been used in women as a menstrual remedy. It may also be used as an astringent and may have other uses. Check with your pharmacist for more details regarding the particular brand you use.

Bearberry, also know as Uva Ursi or by its scientific name, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, was used in smoking mixtures. The leaves would be dried and smoked like tobacco by itself or mixed with true tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) or other herbs. ... The Cherokee used it, interestingly, to break the tobacco habit.Jul 27, 1998

It thrives on soil poor in nutrients and sandy soil that has a hard time supporting other ground covers. Plant it in full sun or partial shade, in spots where it will have space to spread. While bearberry is slow to grow in the first year, it will spread rapidly once established to create mats that fill a lot of space.May 17, 2021

The fruit is a red berry. It likes to spread and will root where stems touch the soil.It can handle a wide variety of sun conditions, from full sun to part shade to full shade, and tolerate...

Bearberry cotoneasters grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness zones 5 through 8. These evergreen shrubs require light pruning in the spring just after they finish blooming to remain clean and aesthetically pleasing.