Arctostaphylos manzanita (Common Manzanita)

Arctostaphylos manzanita (Common Manzanita) is a dramatic evergreen shrub of erect and spreading habit, adorned with striking, smooth, mahogany-colored bark. Its long, crooked, and twisted branches are clothed with bright, shiny, green, wedge-shaped, pointed leaves. Pretty clusters of lantern-shaped, white-to-pink flowers hang gracefully from short stems in late winter to early spring. Attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, they last several weeks and are followed by a profusion of white edible berries that ripen to bright red. Resembling tiny apples (the Spanish name for Apple is Manzana), indigenous peoples used these berries to make a refreshing, cider-like drink. Slow to rot, the glistening fruits provide excellent food for birds and mammals. Providing year-round interest with its splendid branching structure, colorful bark, evergreen foliage, winter blossoms, and small fruits, this is a picturesque and architectural addition to water-wise and xeriscape gardens. Common Manzanita is one of the easier manzanitas to grow in the landscape and is a desirable wildlife plant.

• Grows up to 10-12 ft. tall and wide (300-360 cm), possibly twice as large with great age.
• Performs best in full sun to part shade in a wide variety of soils, including clay. Water once per month during summer. It is very drought-tolerant once established.
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• Prune manzanitas only in the dry summer months.
• Propagate by seed. Seeds must be fire-treated to germinate.
• Native to California, where it can be found primarily in the North Coast Range, and in the northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills.