This ubiquitous creeping woody subshrub is versatile: plant it in sun or shade, moist or dry. It's a good option for shaded slopes and along north-facing walls, but can hold its own in sunny spots too. Small urn-shaped flowers are followed by the eponymous bright red berries. This is a good "plant it, establish it, and forget it" groundcover, although the more water you give it, that faster it will grow (to a point; it won't tolerate being flooded).
 
 
 
Bearberry is found throughout the northern US, but our local ecotype is much better suited to hot dry summers than the cultivars commonly available in nurseries (which often come from New England, and are prone to scorching in our summer weather).