Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Massachusetts' is a hardy evergreen groundcover prized for its dense mat forming habit and year round appeal. It features small leathery dark green leaves, delicate urn shaped pinkish white flowers in spring, and bright red berries in fall that persist into winter. This selection is especially cold tolerant and ideal for stabilizing slopes, dry sandy soils, and coastal areas.
Height & Spread: 6 - 12 in x 24 - 36 in
Bloom Time: Spring
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Well drained, acidic, sandy or rocky soils
Watering Needs: Low once established
Deer Resistance: Not favored by deer due to leathery foliage and tough stems
Native Status
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is native to much of North America, including alpine and boreal regions. The 'Massachusetts' cultivar is a particularly hardy northeastern selection suitable for native plantings and restoration work.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Small native bees such as Andrena and Halictid species are drawn to the spring flowers for early nectar and pollen.
Birds
- Bright red berries are relished by waxwings, thrushes, and grouse in late fall and winter, while the low evergreen mat provides nesting cover for ground dwelling songbirds.
Beneficial Insects
- The dense canopy protects predatory beetles and spiders that help control soil dwelling pests in naturalized areas.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 24 - 36 in apart to allow full coverage and prevent weed encroachment.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for slopes, dry open woodland edges, or massed as a low maintenance erosion controlling carpet in sandy or rocky sites.
Companion Plants
- Vaccinium angustifolium (Lowbush Blueberry) - Shares acidic soil needs and offers contrasting edible berries with seasonal color.
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) - Offers upright texture and fall color to punctuate low evergreen plantings.
- Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge) - Fine textured grassy clumps blend with and soften the uva-ursi’s low mats.
- Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) - Spreads similarly and provides glossy leaves and red fruit through winter.
- Comptonia peregrina (Sweet Fern) - Aromatic foliage and nitrogen fixing ability support dry soil gardens alongside uva-ursi.