Uva Ursi

Uva Ursi Leaf (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Uva ursi, also known as bearberry, is a low-growing evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae family, native to mountainous regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Its thick, leathery leaves, urn-shaped flowers, and clusters of bright red berries have inspired both its botanical and common names, which translate to "grape of the bear," reflecting the berries' appeal to wildlife.

Traditionally valued in Western herbalism for its astringent, tannin-rich leaves, uva ursi is commonly prepared as a tea, tincture, or capsule, and is also incorporated into topical herbal preparations. It is frequently combined with botanicals such as buchu, cleavers, dandelion leaf, parsley seed, and juniper berries in traditional herbal formulas.