Bearberry

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), also known as kinnikinnick, is a low, trailing evergreen shrub in the heath family (Ericaceae). It is common in the montane and subalpine zones of Banff National Park, forming mats on rocky slopes, forest edges, and drier, sun-exposed areas of the Bow Valley.

Identification: Glossy, leathery leaves; small pink-white urn-shaped flowers in spring; bright red berries in late summer and fall. The plant carpets the ground, rarely exceeding a few inches in height, and spreads by rhizomes.

Traditional use: Indigenous peoples used the dried leaves in smoking blends (the name kinnikinnick comes from Algonquian languages) and ate the berries, which are edible but mealy. The leaves have also been used medicinally.

The resort’s Bearberry run on the Front Side is named after this plant.