Common Manzanita
Arctostaphylos manzanita
Climate Match for your location
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A California native shrub with smooth reddish-brown bark, small leathery leaves, and delicate white to pink bell-shaped flowers in winter followed by red berries. Extremely drought-tolerant and fire-resistant once established.
Why grow it
Manzanita offers reliable winter interest through its bell-shaped flowers when many garden shrubs are dormant, followed by persistent berries attractive to wildlife. Compared to other drought-tolerant California natives like ceanothus, manzanita's smooth mahogany bark provides year-round visual appeal and its dense evergreen form works well as a backdrop or screen planting. It typically requires less pruning and fertilizer than many ornamental shrubs once established in well-draining soil.
Watch out for
Young plants are tender and benefit from consistent water during their first growing season despite the species' eventual drought tolerance, so establishment timing matters. Root rot can develop in heavy clay soils or where drainage is poor, making site preparation important before planting. The plant's shallow root system means it may compete with nearby plantings or be slow to recover from severe disturbance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California (Sierra Nevada foothills and Coast Ranges)
Native to: California
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A California native shrub with smooth reddish-brown bark, small leathery leaves, and delicate white to pink bell-shaped flowers in winter followed by red berries. Extremely drought-tolerant and fire-resistant once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Manzanita grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Manzanita offers reliable winter interest through its bell-shaped flowers when many garden shrubs are dormant, followed by persistent berries attractive to wildlife. Compared to other drought-tolerant California natives like ceanothus, manzanita's smooth mahogany bark provides year-round visual appeal and its dense evergreen form works well as a backdrop or screen planting. It typically requires less pruning and fertilizer than many ornamental shrubs once established in well-draining soil.
Watch out for
Young plants are tender and benefit from consistent water during their first growing season despite the species' eventual drought tolerance, so establishment timing matters. Root rot can develop in heavy clay soils or where drainage is poor, making site preparation important before planting. The plant's shallow root system means it may compete with nearby plantings or be slow to recover from severe disturbance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California (Sierra Nevada foothills and Coast Ranges)
Native to: California
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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