Kinnikinnick • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

With its low, trailing growth habit, Kinnikinnick forms dense mats of glossy, leathery leaves, creating a carpet effect in flowerbeds and beside pathways. It grows to a height of 6 inches and can spread up to 4 feet wide. It's evergreen leaves keep your gardens and landscaping areas green through the winter. Ideal for slopes, rock gardens, poor soil, and even container plantings, Kinnikinnick is a reliable and resilient groundcover that excels in both urban and rural settings. 

Kinnikinnick typically blooms in mid spring when the mean temperature ranges between 50°F and 70°F. Berries will start to emerge in late summer to early fall. 

As the summer months progress, the green berries gradually transition through shades of yellow and pink before reaching their final rich red color, signaling the coming of autumn and the close of summer. All but a few leaves remain green through the winter months. 

Believe it or not, Kinnikinnick performs the best on poor, acidic, fast draining soils like that of the coastal cliffs of the Pacific Northwest and has been even known to grow on limestone if kept constantly hydrated by coastal winds. 

Kinnikinnick is hard to transplant from the wild, but will easily root from container grown rooted cuttings. Place this in areas where other plants don't seem to do well, keeping in mind that it doesn't like wet feet, so will die back if the soil is constantly wet.