Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a small procumbent woody groundcover shrub growing to 5–30 centimetres (2–12 inches) high.

The finely textured velvety branches are initially white to pale green, becoming smooth and red-brown with maturity.

[9] They have rounded tips tapering back to the base, held vertically by a twisted leaf stalk in an alternate arrangement on the stem.

[9] The leaves remain green for 1–3 years before falling in autumn, when their colour changes to a reddish-green or purple, pale on the underside.

[7] The specific epithet, uva-ursi, comes from the Latin words uva (meaning grape) and ursus (bear), reflected by the bearberry nickname.

[7] Numerous common names exist, depending on region, such as mealberry, sandberry, mountain-box, fox-plum, hog-crawberry, and barren myrtle.

[17] Uva ursi may cause adverse effects in people with liver or kidney disease, or pregnant and breastfeeding women.

[8] Teas and extracts of the leaves have been used in traditional medicine of First Nations people over centuries as urinary tract antiseptics, diuretics, and laxatives.

[16] Though thought to be an astringent[22] or cure for sexually transmitted diseases,[23] as of 2017, there was no high-quality evidence from clinical research that such treatments are effective or safe.

[4] It is an attractive year-round evergreen groundcover for gardens, and is useful for controlling erosion on hillsides and slopes due to its deep roots.