Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae

Order Ericales

Family Ericaceae – Heath family

Genus Arctostaphylos Adans. – manzanita

Species Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. – kinnikinnick

One of the finest evergreen ground covers, Kinnikinnick has long, trailing branches, thickly clothed with dark green, leathery leaves.

In winter the leaves often become a regal burgundy color.

The white – pink, urn-shaped flowers are followed by vibrant red berries which birds love.

This fast-growing plant is found in USDA zones 5-10, from Alaska to New Mexico and east to Virginia in dry, sunny and often sterile locations.

Native groups smoked Kinnikinnick and the berries are still used medicinally to treat bladder and kidney disorders.

Gardeners love Kinnikinnick for landscaping steep banks, rockeries and open spaces in urban settings where it anchors the soil by rooting at intervals along the prostrate stems.

    

The photo above, left, shows this hardy native used as a groundcover beneath a rhododendron. Note the few wild strawberry plants sharing this space with the Bearberry.