Kinnikinnick - 3.5" band
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
3.5" Band Pots
A gardener's delight, Kinnikinnik especially shines in dry, sunny locations. Excellent for hard to grow areas such as steep banks where its branches root readily wherever they rest. 6-8".
One thing gardeners are constantly searching for is a good ground-cover. Kinnikinnik is without a doubt the best northwest native ground-cover you will ever find. Here's what it will do for your landscape:
It is evergreen, it is completely well-behaved--never invades other plants' territory, never needs pruning, never sheds leaves or bark or anything else. It is drought resistant once established. It reproduces itself by rooting at intervals wherever it touches the ground.
And it blooms! Little bells of white or pink flowers cover the plant adding a delightful tender look to embellish the small evergreen leaves.
And it fruits! The bright red berries are edible for humans and the young leaves are good for tea but most enthusiastic admirers (and partakers) of the fruit are birds and other wildlife.
And very often the leaves will turn a lovely wine color in fall, giving a beautiful and rich contrast to the bright red berries.
It is even recognized by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution--there is a chapter named for this outstanding plant, organized in 1914.
Kinnkinnik does require good drainage. It will flourish without watering but if it is required to live in compacted, heavy soils it will languish.
Habitat: Drought-tolerant, dry soil with good drainage, sun to part-shade/sun
Size: 6-8"
Wildlife: Nectar source for butterflies, food source for native butterfly caterpillars and native wildlife; food source, shelter, or nesting sites for birds; Among species considered to be the most valuable wildlife plants by ODFW Naturescaping (2001) reference.