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Menu — Bearberry — Pacific dogwood — Red-osier dogwood


Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry

Bearberry


Botanical Information

  • Evergreen shrub, grows up to 15 cm
  • Prefers exposed rocks and sand
  • White urn-shaped flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer



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Canada Map Can be found in

Points of Interest

  • Red berries have traditionally been an important food for Aboriginal peoples, especially in the North
  • Used in many herbal remedies in North America and Europe, especially to treat kidney stones and urinary infections
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Cornus nuttallii

© Lavonia R. Stockelbach - Courtesy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada


Pacific dogwood


Botanical Information

  • Deciduous tree, grows up to 10 m
  • Prefers moist woods and stream banks
  • White flowers bloom in the spring, sometimes again in the fall



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Canada Map Can be found in

Points of Interest

  • Adopted as the floral emblem of British Columbia in 1956
  • West Coast Aboriginal peoples used bark in remedies to purify the blood and treat stomach-aches
  • Source of black dye used in basket making
  • Wood suitable for tool handles and piano keys
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Cornus sericea

Red-osier dogwood

Red-osier dogwood


Botanical Information

  • Deciduous shrub, grows up to 3 m
  • Bright red stems
  • Prefers stream banks and moist woods
  • White flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer



plazaicon.jpg
Canada Map Can be found in

Points of Interest

  • Aboriginal peoples included bark in remedies
  • Traditionally infused to make tea
  • Bark can also be used to make red and black dye
  • Stems can be used to make baskets, bows and arrows
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Menu — Bearberry — Pacific dogwood — Red-osier dogwood



Date created: July 19, 2002Last updated: April 14, 2003
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