How to Identify Bearberry
The bearberry plant is a beautiful low-growing evergreen plant that not only adds a nice touch to your garden, but is also very useful. The berries are edible and the root of the plant can be made into tea that is said to soothe a constant cough or even reduce menstrual bleeding. Here are some tips on how to identify a bearberry plant.
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Instructions
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1
Check out the stem. The first way to separate this plant from other evergreens is the height of its stem. Usually it rests no more than 2 to 8 inches off the ground.
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2
Inspect the bark of the tree. The bark is thick and rugged, which is more like a tree and less like a lot of pure plant life. It is also covered with fine hairs, which help keep the plant warm.
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3
Look at the leaves. The leaves of the tree are leathery and about 1 inch long. They are formed in clusters on the branches of the plant.
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Gaze at the flowers when in bloom. The bearberry plant has very distinct flowers. Each flower has five petals and are usually white or pink in color. The petals also curl inward around the narrow center of the flower. They are usually in bloom between March and June.
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Beware of the bears who love the berries. The bearberry plant gets its name because the bears love to feast on their berries. The berries are red and usually about 3/8 inch in diameter.
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Tips & Warnings
This plant is found is Iceland, Greenland and Northern Eurasia as well as in the United States in places like Alaska, Oregon, Washington and parts of Montana, among other places.
When eating any wild plant, positive identification is essential to prevent poisoning.
