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© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants Project SOUND – 2011 (our 7th year)
© Project SOUND
Magnificent Manzanitas
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
December 3 & 6, 2011
The genus Arctostaphylos
In the Heath family (Ericaceae)
Includes the Manzanitas and Bearberries, blueberries
Manzanitas occur in the chaparral of western North America, from southern British Columbia through much of northern and central Mexico.
The three species of Bearberries have adapted to arctic and subarctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe.
© Project SOUND
Why do people fall in love with Manzanitas?
Showy, sweet-smelling flowers in winter/early spring
Evergreen foliage
Red bark
Interesting, architectural growth patterns
Edible fruits/medicinal leaves
Attracts hummingbirds, native bees & butterflies
Because they’re rare in the wilds
Because they are a part of California’s unique wild heritage
© Project SOUND
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Whatever the reason, people want to include manzanitas in their gardens….
© Project SOUND
And that can be a challenge for those of us
living in western L.A. county
© Project SOUND
Success with manzanitas begins with choosing
the best species or cultivar for your conditions
Tailor the manzanita to your conditions
(rather than the other way around)
Soil conditions:
Texture/drainage
pH
Size: height & width/spread
Growth pattern/speed
Light/temperature
Water regimen
Aesthetics:
© Project SOUND
Fortunately, there are more than forty species of Arctostaphylos in
California not to mention all the cultivars, subspecies and hybrids. © Project SOUND
Many species require well-drained soils
Soil texture/Drainage
Soil type Approximate time
to drain
Hard-pan or sodic soils
days
Clay 3-12 hours
Loam 20-60 minutes
Sandy Loam 10-30 minutes
Sand can't fill the hole, drains too fast
dig hole 1 ft x 1 ft
fill with water and let drain
fill hole again, measure
time for water to drain
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Many manzanitas like a slightly acidic soil
Most manzanitas originate in areas with more acidic soil due to:
Higher rainfall
Effects of chaparral/woodland plants
The rock material from which the soils were derived
Our local garden soils tend to range from 6.5 to 7.5 – and some may be as high as 7.8+
© Project SOUND
Soils under pine trees and oaks will be more acidic
So, you really should test your soil pH if
you want to grow manzanitas
A simple garden soil pH test kit is adequate for the job – no need for fancy equipment
If your soil is Alkaline (pH > 7.5) consider planting in a large pot
If your soil is neutral or slightly acid (pH 6.0 – 7.5) choose manzanitas that like a slightly acid soil and use an organic mulch
If your soil is acid (pH 5.0-5.9) you can plant even those that need acidic soils
© Project SOUND
http://nogmoseedbank.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/planning-for-spring-
planting-season-part-5-conducting-a-soil-test/
Can’t I just amend my soil to lower the pH?
Actually, it’s not that easy:
Takes a lot of effort to lower soils pH – and you have to keep doing it because pH keeps ↑
Acid fertilizers also increase the soil N levels – often too high for CA native plants
Chemical amendments: sulfur or iron/ammonium/
aluminum sulfate
Natural amendments: pine straw; oak leaf mold
? Coffee grounds/acid compost
© Project SOUND
http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/lawns/planting/Incorp
oratingAmendments.aspx
If you’re acidifying 1000 sq ft of
soil with sulfur, a 1.0 change in
pH (from 7.5 to 6.5) requires 11
pounds of the product for sandy
soil and 23 pounds for claylike
soil.
Size matters: most Manzanitas eventually
want to grow to their natural size
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97607362@N00/4375161245/ http://travel.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977173759
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Manzanita species grow from < six inches (some coastal
species) to twenty feet tall (many interior species).
© Project SOUND
http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Mar08.html
http://www.fresno.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24200&letter=b
&return=s_aP
Don’t forget the width
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos rudis "Burton Beauty Manzanita".
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/swest/msg0309450418785.html
A. refugioensis
The right plant, grown correctly, will live for more
than 100 years (especially the larger forms).
© Project SOUND
http://123terry.com/photos/mom_day_2008/mom_day_2008.html
Let’s say you want to replace an old tree
with a large manzanita
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http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Mar08.html
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© Project SOUND
Big Berry Manzanita – Arctostaphylos glauca
© 2008 Gary A. Monroe
© Project SOUND
Bigberry Manzanita:
shrub or tree
Easy-care shrub for slopes; good for erosion control
Specimen shrub; needs little pruning
As a small shade tree
As a key shrub/tree for the habitat garden: bees, butterflies, birds, humans
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glauca
Why choose Manzanita cultivars?
Because they have better size, shape, color, etc.
Because they often are better adapted to garden conditions (and therefore more likely to thrive in your garden)
Garden tolerance - cultivars are often more tolerant of: A little extra water
Soils that are not perfectly drained
Heat and cold
Salinity and higher pH
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos glauca
‘Los Angeles’
Source plant: originally in the area of Mullholland Hwy. and Kanan Rd.
Smooth red bark and clean shiny foliage with pink- white flowers make the plant quite attractive.
Locally native – tolerates sandy soils of western L.A. County
© Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glauca-frazier-park-manzanita
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glauca-los-angeles
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Arctostaphylos glauca
‘Frazier Park’
From Frazier Park/ Mt. Pinos region ~ 5000 ft.
The form is low/dense for a Big Berry Manzanita.
Foliage is pale green, a glaucous green, making it appear whitish-bluish - beautiful accent plant in a garden.
© Project SOUND
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glauca-frazier-park-manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
‘Margarita Pearl’
? Big Berry manzanita (glauca) or a hybrid between A. glauca and A. wellsii
Very large flowers and berries – good for edibles garden
Foliage is a bright grey on new growth and dull grey on old growth – lovely color
© Project SOUND http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-margarita-pearl
Arctostaphylos glauca
‘Ramona’
From San Vicente/Ramona area (San Diego Co.)
Red bark, a very open form, clean glossy foliage. The plant looks almost artificial
Use as a specimen with lower green manzanitas and ceanothi under it, or as an elegant eight to ten foot hedge in a chaparral planting.
Ok in soils of pH 7.8, and might even be ok in pH 8.
© Project SOUND http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glauca-ramona-manzanita
Arctostaphylos
‘Canyon Blush’
Arctostaphylos glauca hybrid from a chance seedling in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
Red-flushed new foliage and blush pink flowers
4’ tall by 20 ft wide; climbing/ trailing form
Quite effective as a sprawling, large-scale groundcover, or cascading down a slope.
Use drip irrigation in place of overhead watering to reduce spread of this disease.
© Project SOUND
http://www.faroutflora.com/page/12/
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Allelopathy: chemical warfare in the garden
Chaparral plants tend to ‘exclude’ other plants: Shading or crowding out
Producing chemicals that are toxic to plants or seedlings
Some common trees/large shrubs that practice chemical warfare: Manzanitas/Bearberries
Walnuts
Oaks
Sycamore
California Bay laurel
Cottonwood
Non-natives like Forsythia, Tree-of-heaven, Black locust and Eucalyptus
© Project SOUND
http://sierrafoothillgarden.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/allelopathic-plantswhat-
%E2%80%9Ci-want-to-be-aloooone%E2%80%9D/
© Project SOUND
Common Manzanita – Arctostaphylos manzanita
http://lucioledesign.com/blog/?attachment_id=552
© Project SOUND
Common Manzanita – Arctostaphylos manzanita
© 1994 David Graber
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3492
Central & northern California - Contra Costa County north to Humboldt, Trinity, and Shasta counties; and from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Shasta County south to Mariposa County.
On ‘dry’, well-drained, sunny sites in Ponderosa shrub forest, California mixed evergreen forest, Northern oak woodlands, Chaparral, Montane chaparral
© Project SOUND
Common Manzanita: large size
Size: 6-12+ ft tall – as tall as 20’
4-10 ft wide
Growth form: Large evergreen shrub/small tree
Open, upright habit – many long twisted trunks give it an umbrella-like shape
Peeling red-brown bark
Foliage: Bright green to slightly blue-
green
Leaves simple, rounded
© 2009 John Malpas
http://atlantis.mendocino.edu/jxerogeanes/AGR%2053/Arctostaphylos%20manzanita-%20Whole%20plant.jpg
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© Project SOUND
Most manzanitas like
well-drained soils
Soils: Texture: any with very good
drainage
pH: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) ; may need to amend or use mulch to acidify (pine needles; oak leaves)
Light: Full sun (coast) to part-shade –
even under tall pines
Water: Winter: adequate/supplement
Summer: occasional water is best – 1-3 times per summer (Zone 1-2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: use an organic mulch; pine needles are great!
http://www.intermountainnursery.com/demonstration_garden_list.htm
Best away from the coast;
likes cooler winters
Why do garden manzanitas need a well-drained soil?
It’s what they are adapted to (root system anatomy)
It keeps you/Mother Nature from over-watering
Winter rain events can ‘drown’ plants in standing water/water-logged soils
Too much summer rain promotes fungal diseases to which manzanitas are susceptible
© Project SOUND http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlingfeather/297644619/
Watering Manzanitas: a few pointers
Look to the plant’s natural climate as a starting point:
Lots of rain yearly – some species from very N. coast
Deeper/more frequent winter rains – higher elevation chaparral & woodlands
Summer monsoons in August – San Diego county species
Significant summer fog – species from the central and northern CA coast
© Project SOUND
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/mounttam/Interesting
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-
morroensis-park-view-manzanita
Then modify according to your conditions
Temperature
Soil characteristics
Wind, fog and other climatic differences
© Project SOUND
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Watering manzanitas: some tips
Be sure that ‘expert advice’ is appropriate for your area
Use conventional drip irrigation only to get plants started the first year
Use soaker hoses, soaker-drip or a plain old hose for deep, occasional water of established plants
Only use overhead spray for coastal species that need a fake ‘fog spray’
© Project SOUND
Planting and establishing manzanitas
The best time to plant is in the Fall to early Winter, when soils are moist.
Treat manzanitas as 1 full Water Zone above their final Zone for the first 2 summers. This will often be either Zone 2 or 2-3 (watering every 7-14 days).
Water as the soil starts to dry. Inspect the soil down a few inches to get a true idea of sub-surface moisture. Moisture meters are an inexpensive and effective way to check out the amount of water in the soil.
By 3rd summer decrease to ½ Zone above final Zone.
Ultimately, in about 3-5 years, your manzanitas, can take their final zone - may become independent of your care.
© Project SOUND
As a shade tree
As an exotic accent
As a large foundation shrub
On dry slopes
For habitat value
© Project SOUND
Treat as a shrub or tree
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-manzanita-dr-hurd-
manzanita-tree
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=432
http://www.sanjose.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=2528&return=l4_aD
Arctostaphylos manzanita ‘Byrd Hill’
Naturally occurring variant
A more compact version of A. manzanita (8-10' H x 8' W)
Upright; nice sculpted form.
Very drought tolerant. No summer water (or just 1-2 times per summer – Zone 1-2) once established
Excellent for wildlife.
© Project SOUND http://www.californianativeplants.com/index.php/catalog/item/arctostaphylos-manzanita-byrd-hill
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Arctostaphylos manzanita ‘Dr. Hurd’
To 15’ tall & wide; fast grower
More garden tolerant: some summer water, richer soil, than Arctostaphylos glauca
Tolerates clay or sandy soils
Tree or shrub form – your choice
Reliable drought-tolerant plant in our area
© Project SOUND
http://lucioledesign.com/blog/?attachment_id=552
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/images/new_botimages/large/0118_2_j.jpg
http://www.santacruz.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=2528&return=l9_aC
Arctostaphylos manzanita x A. densiflora
‘Austin Griffiths’ Manzanita
Hybrid: Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' X Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'
Tall open shape with bright foliage & pink flowers of A. densiflora
8-10 ft tall; 6-8 ft wide
Sandy soils best; clay ok
Good for habitat hedges/dry hedgerows
© Project SOUND
Manzanita hybrids – more all the time!
Are a cross between two species
Can occur in the wilds – and do – but many species never come in contact in the wilds
Hybrids occur readily in the garden setting – manzanita species are ‘promiscuous’
Some hybrids combine the best traits of both parents (‘hybrid cultivars’)
Impact on wild populations – a real potential problem (but not in lower elevation western L.A. county)
© Project SOUND
‘Austin Griffiths’ Manzanita
Large Manzanitas: are they trees or shrubs?
That’s debatable
Some native shrubby species - mainly those native to California - certainly reach tree size.
However, they generally branch or fork near the ground, thus lacking the single trunk of a tree.
? ‘multi-trunk small tree’
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos 'Bird Hill' and Lyonothamnus
planifolia both have open ‘tree-like’ growth
habit that allow them to be ‘pruned up’ into
small ‘trees’.
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Most Manzanitas look good throughout their
lifespan – even without pruning
© Project SOUND
http://camissonia.blogspot.com/2011/01/rain-frost-
blooming-manzanitas.html
At four years
© 2008 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctosta
phylos-auriculata/
‘Dr. Hurd’ grows up
to be a tree
© Project SOUND
http://www.heronshouse.com/Landscaping/California%20Natives.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/5967389289/
‘Dr. Hurd’ at 5 years http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-02-27/home-and-garden/28632634_1_prune-manzanitas-fruit-
trees
http://3palmsnursery.com/ywup/ArctoDr%20Hurd.JPG
Pruning to shape – tree-like forms
Judicious shaping is possible.
The trick seems to be not to act too soon - until you can get a feel for the form the plant is taking - or too late, which would leave large pruning scars on the smooth, red bark.
© Project SOUND
http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2010/03/walking-around-neighborhood.html
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/keeleyhope/1/1267709433/manzanita.jpg/tpod.html
‘Howard McMinn’
Start by choosing the right species – and
the right plant
© Project SOUND
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_a/arcsun.html
‘Sunset’
http://www.heronshouse.com/Landscaping/California%20Natives.htm
‘Howard McMinn’
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Mother Nature trumps
Most manzanitas are not going to have a single leader (a single dominant trunk that starts at the ground and extends through the tree).
Trying to get that kind of tree will probably not be wise – work with the natural shape
© Project SOUND
Above all, do no harm Prune manzanitas only in
warm, dry weather, to guard against diseases fostered by cold and damp.
Don’t stress the plant by over-pruning:
If it's young plant, remove no more than about 25% of it's leaf / volume.
Limit pruning of older plants to 10% to 15%. You can always do more next year.
© Project SOUND
Prune purposively
© Project SOUND
http://www.juniperridge.com/wildcrafting_use.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Manzanita.JPG
If removing a branch or trunk will improve the shape, remove it before it gets too big (< 1.5 inches is good).
Consider pinching small branch tips to redirect growth upward - pinching to an upward facing bud.
Most manzanitas won't form new leaves on a branch if you cut off the part of it that had leaves, so think hard before you cut.
http://truevisiondesign.com/janet/fun/around-the-property/86-clearing-brush-and-the-joy-of-
poison-oak
Can manzanitas be
used in hedges &
hedgerows?
© Project SOUND
‘Austin Griffiths’
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© Project SOUND
Pointleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos pungens
http://www.delange.org/ManzanitaPointleaf/ManzanitaPointleaf.htm
Foothills & mtns of the U.S. Southwest and NW Mexico – 2500-8000 ft.
Locally: San Gabriel & San Bernardino Mtns.
Rocky slopes, ridges, in chaparral, coniferous forest
© Project SOUND
Pointleaf Manzanita – Arctostaphylos pungens
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-
bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3522
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flor
a_id=1&taxon_id=250092319
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/arpu5.htm
http://www.birdandhike.com/Veg/Species/Shrubs/Arctos_pun/_Arc_pun.htm
© Project SOUND
Pointleaf Manzanita: variable over its range
Size: 3-10 ft tall – often 3-6 ft
3-8 ft wide – often 3-6 ft
Growth form: Evergreen shrub/small tree
Upright, open habit
Smooth, red-brown peeling bark
In nature may grow in dense thickets
Foliage: Thick, leathery leaves
Shiny wax coating
Produces volatile chemicals – helps to burn
Roots: shallow, fibrous
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/arpu5.htm http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~greywolf/spectra/spec_curve.html
Manzanitas are primarily chaparral plants
© Project SOUND
Environmental
Higher total moisture
Rain & snow
May also have summer rains
Wider temperature extremes
More natural mulch
Growth patterns
Evergreen
Longer growth season – spring through summer
May have growth/flowering after summer rains
Role of fire: essential for many species
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Manzanitas and fire Manzanitas contain a high percentage
of volatile compounds, which burn like a torch when ignited.
They also carry a large amount of dead wood, making them all the more flammable.
Manzanita can act as a ladder fuel in landscapes, especially when planted adjacent to flammable structures such as homes, decks, fences, and trees. Ladder fuels carry fire from the ground where it can be controlled to treetops where it is difficult to control.
Flame lengths of manzanita can reach eight times the height of the shrub (i.e. a five foot tall manzanita can generate a 40 foot flame).
© Project SOUND
http://sandiegohiker.net/?p=408
Tough seed coats and sprouting
roots/ burls are manzanita
adaptations to life with fire
If you need to worry about fire: choices
Plant something other than a manzanita
Plant species from Northern CA or cultivars that can take a little more water; then water them
Choose Bearberries, which are not so flammable but have the ‘manzanita look’
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
Flowers and fruits
Blooms: Winter to early spring – in our
area may be as early as Nov/Dec.
Provide needed winter color, nectar
Flowers: Typical for the genus: small,
white (pink blush) urn-shaped
Fruits: Small (1/4 inch)
Ripen to showy red in summer; retained through fall
Vegetative reproduction: natural layering
http://www.delange.org/ManzanitaPointleaf/ManzanitaPointleaf.htm
Growing Manzanita from seed: difdicult
Very difficult to germinate: have both a hard seedcoat and embryo dormancy
In nature, manzanita seeds germinate following fire. Fire provides exposure to heat/smoke and seedbed preparation.
To mimic this natural process, some propagators sow seeds in a flat (wooden flat covered with aluminum foil) and burn a 3-4 inch layer of pine needles on top of the seedbed.
Seeds may take a year to germinate. Once seedlings germinate, they are transplanted to nursery containers.
© Project SOUND
http://hazmac.biz/041206b/041206bArctostaphylosPungens.html
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Propagating manzanitas by layering is easy
Propagate existing manzanita plants using Mother Nature’s method - the layering technique.
A tender shoot is "pinned" (using a "U" shaped piece of wire) into the soil where it is left to take root for a growing season.
Slightly wound the stem with a sharp, clean knife and give supplemental water to promote root growth.
After roots become established, the rooted plant can be severed from the mother plant, grown up in a pot, and transplanted in fall following recovery. © Project SOUND
http://generalhorticulture.tamu.edu/YouthAdventureProgra
m/AsexualPropagation/AsexaulPropagation.html
Natural ‘layering’ allows
some plants to form a thicket
generated from a single
plant
© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements Soils:
Texture: well-drained – sandy or rocky best, but others ok on slopes
pH: slightly acidic - 5.1-7.5
Light: Full sun
Can take plenty of heat
Water: Winter: adequate
Summer: in our area, best with occasional water (once a month in summer – Zone 1-2) but very drought tolerant; likes ‘summer monsoon’
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: organic mulch
http://www.educacionambiental.org.mx/atlas/anexo/CONABIO/Arctostaphylos%20pungens2.jpg
© Project SOUND
Pointleaf Manzanita thrives
in dry gardens
Nice background shrub or in informal hedges
Hot, dry hills & slopes – erosion control
Place where you can enjoy flowers & fruits
http://www.delange.org/ManzanitaPointleaf/ManzanitaPointleaf.htm
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARPU5 http://www.delange.org/ManzanitaPointleaf/ManzanitaPointleaf.htm http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/
For a chaparral garden, plant with its
usual associates
Wedgeleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus)
California buckthorn (Frangula californica)
Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany
Thickleaf yerba santa (E. crassifolium)
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron species) CA coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica)
Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii)
Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina)
Black & White Sages (Salvia mellifera, Apiana)
© Project SOUND
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Pruning Manzanitas for a hedge or pot
Choose the right species: should have a more dense (less open) growth habit
Prune out branches that are ‘wrong’
Tip-prune/pinch new growth to promote fuller, bushy growth if desired
© Project SOUND
Aesthetic and other considerations when
choosing a manzanita
Open or dense growth pattern
Growth speed
Foliage color
Flower color
Size/color of fruits
‘Garden hardiness’ – length of time used in gardens
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
* Otay Manzanita – Arctostaphylos otayensis
© 2003 David Graber
© Project SOUND
* Otay Manzanita – Arctostaphylos otayensis
© 2003 David Graber
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3513
Endemic to mountains of southern San Diego County (e.g., Guatay, Jamul, Otay), near border with Baja California & nearby S. Riverside County and northern Baja
Shallow volcanic soils, rock outcrops in chaparral, woodlands (1500-5200‘ elev.)
http://www.willhiteweb.com/california_climbing/trip_reports_099.htm
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© Project SOUND
Otay Manzanita: medium to large shrub
Size: 5-15 ft tall
4-8 ft wide
Growth form: Upright, evergreen shrub –
similar appearance to ‘Dr. Hurd’
Slow-growing; dense when young becoming more open
Red-brown shreddy bark
Foliage: New leaves bright green
Older leaves more gray-green
Leaves spaced so ‘open’ look
Roots: fibrous; no burl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphyl
os_otayensis
Flower color
Vary even within species: Otay Manzanita can be pale or medium pink – different appearance
Best time to buy is now – can see flower color
© Project SOUND
© 2005 Gene Wagner, RPh.
A . pungens
http://hy.bestpicturesof.com/pungens
http://azwildflowers.blogspot.com/2007/04/pointleaf-manzanita.html
Why go to the nursery in Dec/Jan?
Often can see both new & older foliage color
Can see flower size, color and density of floral clusters – even if none on the 1-gallen you buy, nursery will likely have a mature plant or pictures of the exact plant you’re buying
Perfect time to plant; you can choose and purchase now
© Project SOUND
http://www.intermountainnursery.com/retail_nursery.htm
© Project SOUND
Otay Manzanita loves rocky soils
Soils: Texture: loves rocky soils but
also grows in clay
pH: mildly acidic (pH 6.0-7.0 is optimal)
Light: Best in full sun, but will take a
little shade
Fine in hot gardens
Water: Winter: adequate
Summer: occasional water (Zone 1-2) when mature. Likes 1 August ‘monsoon shower’
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
© 2003 David Graber
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© Project SOUND
Otay Manzanita thrives
in hot, inland gardens
Good background shrub in woodland garden.
Lovely shape for specimen plant or informal hedge
Flowers attract hummingbirds & insect pollinators; many birds and animals like the fruits
© 2003 David Graber
http://kate-campbell.blogspot.com/2011/09/manzanita-saving-celebrating-our.html
So much habitat value
© Project SOUND http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-pungens
Maybe you like the looks of Otay
Manzanita, but you live by the coast..
© Project SOUND http://www.naturalfrontyards.com/choose-a-palette/california-coastal/
© Project SOUND http://www.californiachaparral.com/factsandmyths/wheretofindchaparral.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tcorelli/page602/ http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/ecoregions/51202.htm
Fortunately, not all chaparral is the same:
maritime chaparral
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© Project SOUND
* Morro Manzanita – Arctostaphylos morroensis
© 2011 Chris Winchell
© Project SOUND
* Morro Manzanita – Arctostaphylos morroensis
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3505
Endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known only from the vicinity of Morro Bay.
It is limited to a specific type of substrate: ancient dune sands
http://www.worldbotanical.com/arctostaphylos.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_morroensis_1.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgehill/3776478253/
© Project SOUND
'Harmony' & 'Sunset' Manzanitas ‘soften’ a gravel pathway
at the front entry: what other choices?
http://camissonia.blogspot.com/2011/02/olives-are-cured-and-some-cal-native.html
© Project SOUND
http://www.worldbotanical.com/arctostaphylos.htm
* Del mar Manzanita – Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia
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Endemic to the south-central coast of San Diego County south into extreme northwestern Baja California
On coastal sandstone bluffs within the rare and threatened maritime chaparral plant community
Some of the best populations exist and are protected at Torrey Pines State Reserve
© Project SOUND
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3470,3472
http://www.plantscomprehensive.com/sandiegonatives-blog?page=3
* Del mar Manzanita – Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia
© Project SOUND
Del mar Manzanita: gray-green to blue-green
Size: 3-6 ft tall; usually 3-5 ft
4-6 ft wide
Growth form: Small to medium sized
evergreen shrub w/ red bark
Rounded, upright to rambling form
Slow growing
Foliage: Gray-green to blue-green
Neat/tidy looking
Roots: re-sprouts from basal burl
© 2007 Charles E. Jones
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-glandulosa-ssp-crassifolia
© Project SOUND
Plant Requirements Soils: Texture: sandy (including
sand) or rocky are best
pH: slightly acidic (6.0-7.6); many gardens in this range
Light: Full sun along only on coast
Morning sun/dappled shade in other/hot gardens
Water: Winter: adequate;
supplement if needed
Summer: Zone 1-2 (occasional) best; fog; likes a ‘summer monsoon’ in Aug.
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
© 2006 Kai Palenscar
Look at the weather from the Torrey
Pines state park for clues about
precipitation
© Project SOUND
Use Del Mar Manzanita
As a tall groundcover
Under pines
As an informal hedge
With its usual associated species Comarostaphylis, Xylococcus, Quercus and Salvia species.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphylos_glandulosa
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m-Htm9oK65QX_9Kx7zPcDw
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What to do with all
the fruits?
Beverages Manzanita ‘cider’
Syrup for cold drinks
Dried and ground for tea
Jelly & syrup
Dried and ground for a natural sweetener
© Project SOUND
© 2010 James M. Andre http://www.wishtoyo.org/artifacts-wearables-seed-bead-
necklaces.html
Need a shrub that can take a little more water but
looks like Del Mar Manzanita?
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
* Pajaro Manzanita – Arctostaphylos pajaroensis
© 1995 Dan Post
© Project SOUND
Pajaro Manzanita is great for
coastal gardens
Prune up for a small, dense tree – good nesting sites
Use as a specimen/accent shrub – very attractive year-round, with sculptural shape
As an all-round habitat plant – winter nectar, fruits and cover-nest sites
Has an ‘old-fashioned look’ – perfect for Edwardian or Victorian garden
Nice addition to a scent garden
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-pajaroensis-paradise-manzanita
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/2994359348/
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© Project SOUND
Naturally occurring cultivar
Particularly attractive Bright/dark pink flowers
Light blue-green foliage
4-5 ft tall & wide
Takes a little more heat – good for hot banks
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/waterwise/images/05_Arctostaphylos-cv-MWolf5.jpg
‘Myrtle Wolf’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/72157608574988902/ © Project SOUND
‘Paradise’
Naturally occurring cultivar from Regional Parks Botanic Garden
5-6 ft tall; 6-10 ft wide
Exceptional new foliage color
Needs very good drainage
http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_a/arcpajpar.html
http://drystonegarden.com/
© Project SOUND
‘Warren Roberts’
Very dense, slate-blue/blue-green foliage
Upright habit – good for small tree – 6 ft tall, 10 ft wide
New foliage orange-red – really nice color
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/72157608574988902/
Versatile, garden-friendly
‘Sunset’
© Project SOUND http://xeraplants.com/Xera/SHRUB_A-B_09.html
http://www.rwa.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24200&retu
rn=l7_p87
Hybrid - A. pajaroensis x A. hookeri ssp. hookeri
Very colorful new foliage Low-growing – to about 3-4 ft –
informal hedges Chosen for garden hardiness
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Manzanitas provide a wide range of
foliage colors
© Project SOUND
http://jayacarl.blogspot.com/2007/03/stone-wall-with-manzanita.html
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-silvicola/
Foliage color is important factor
© Project SOUND
A. densiflora – bright green
A. pungens – gray-green A. glandulosa – blue-green
http://camissonia.blogspot.com/2011/02/yes-im-manzanita-freak-and-blooming.html
A. auriculata – silvery blue-green
http://en.flickeflu.com/set/72157622626294085
Compare foliage
at the nursery
Some things to consider:
Color of new leaves – may be red-tinged in some species
Color of mature leaves
Leaf shape
Whether leaves are hairy or shiny
Leaf size and density on branches
Whether leaves are upright on branches
Color of new branches
© Project SOUND
http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2010/04/joy-creek-nursery.html
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Arctostaphylos-silvicola/
Perhaps you need a mid-size shrub
© Project SOUND
You could plant Indian
Hawthorn (Raphiolepis
indica) – or choose a
smaller size manzanita
http://coldcalculation.blogspot.com/2006/09/workhorse-landscape-plants.html
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© Project SOUND
* Mount Diablo Manzanita – Arctostaphylos auriculata
© 2006 Steve Matson
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3456
Endemic to the area surrounding Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County (e San Francisco Bay Area)
occurs primarily in chamise or manzanita chaparral. It can also be found as an understory shrub in coast live oak woodland, 400'-2000' elevation
© Project SOUND
Mount Diablo Manzanita: beautiful foliage
Size: 3-12 ft tall; usually 4-6 ft
5-10 ft wide
Growth form: Evergreen woody shrub
Erect to mounded
Twigs hairy; older bark red
Foliage: Gray-green; may be very
fuzzy
Rounded, over-lapping leaves clasp the branches
Very unusual and lovely appearance
© 2006 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND
Flowers are pink!
Blooms: winter to early spring
Flowers: Usually pink – sometimes
white
Usually hairy
Many flower clusters per plant – plant covered with flowers
Otherwise, fairly typical flowers for the genus
Fruits: small & hairy until mature.
© 2006 Steve Matson © Project SOUND
A. auriculata can take a
little more water Soils:
Texture: well-drained
pH: slightly acidic best
Light: Full sun on coast
Morning sun/dappled shade in hot gardens
Water: Winter: adequate
Summer: best with a little summer water (Zone 1-2 up to 2); rinse off occasionally in summer (be ‘the fog’)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: organic mulch (including oak and pine needles
© 2006 Steve Matson
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Arctostaphylos auriculata 'Knobcone Point'
3-6 ft tall; 6-8 ft wide – spreading with erect stems
An unusual selection of manzanita that retains its close-set juvenile leaves, creating a unique fish scale-like effect
Foliage an attractive blue-green. Excellent in both coastal and inland gardens.
Pale pinkish-white flowers attract hummingbirds.
© Project SOUND
‘Greensphere’
hybrid Rounded shrub, 5’ tall x 6’ wide;
almost perfectly spherical
Dense habit; compact new growth is attractive, reddish, ages to dark green.
Full sun to part shade.
Any soil, dry to semi-dry.
one of the easiest manzanitas to grow.
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/4297456024/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/235340/
The lowest of the low
© Project SOUND http://seedbyte.blogspot.com/2009_12_11_archive.html
© Project SOUND
Little Sur Manzanita – Arctostaphylos edmundsii
© 2007 Penny DeWind
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© Project SOUND
Little Sur Manzanita – Arctostaphylos
edmundsii
Many of the low-growing manzanitas grow in sandy coastal areas, suggesting that well-drained soils are important
http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/documents/2005-200610653.pdf
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos edmundsii
‘Carmel Sur’
Fast growing
Attractive dark gray-green foliage and dense, spreading habit.
< 1 ft. tall and 4 - 6 ft. across.
Prefers coastal conditions but does well protected from hot afternoon sun inland.
Creeping main sterns send up many short, erect branchlets to form an attractive dense, lush-looking ground cover.
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-edmundsii-carmel-sur-manzanita
http://www.calown.com/nativegarden_plants.html
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos edmundsii
‘Big Sur’
An unusually small shrub - < 2 ft
Forms a small mound of dark green leaves and mahogany-red branches.
Unlike most smaller Manzanitas, this selection remains somewhat open, revealing the plant's characteristic beautiful branching structure.
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1277
Use along a path or draping over a wall where it can be appreciated up
close.
© Project SOUND
Arctostaphylos edmundsii
‘Bert Johnson’
Flat mat-like stems hold gray-green leaves that flush bronze in early spring.
A compact mound forming selection to 2’ with shiny foliage and light pink flowers in spring
Reliability in a range of garden situations.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/238318221_cec3be656f.jpg?v=0
Excellent native ground
cover or in containers
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‘Ophio-viridis’ hybrid
1 ft by 4-6 ft
Bright green foliage; overlapping leaves give unique appearance
Recommended for use in containers, or where it can trail over a low wall - beautiful cascading growth.
Also good for hanging baskets.
© Project SOUND
© 2006 Steve Matson
© Project SOUND
Purisima Manzanita – Arctostaphylos purissima
© 2004 David Graber
Endemic to western Santa Barbara County, California, including near Lompoc, site of Mission La Purísima Concepción – hence it’s name
Hills and mesas near the coast (Burton Mesa)
Maritime chaparral on deep, sandy soils, sandstone outcrops
© Project SOUND
Purissima Manzanita – Arctostaphylos purissima
© 1993 David Graber
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3523
© Project SOUND
Purisima Manzanita – a groundcover in nature
Size: Usually 3-4 ft tall; may be
8-10 on some sites
6-12 ft wide; spreading
Growth form: Woody evergreen shrub
Varies in shape from low and spreading to tall and erect.
Densely branched; young twigs are white/hairy
Foliage: Leaves shiny, bright green
May be almost round – clasp the stem
Roots: fibrous; no burl
© 2006 Adonis (Don) Tate
© 2004 David Graber
© 2006 Steve Matson
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© Project SOUND
Purisima likes sand Soils:
Texture: well-drained soils – loves sandy soils
pH: most local
Light: Full sun – only along immediate
coast
Part-shade best in most gardens
Water: Winter: adequate
Summer: looks best with some summer water; Zone 1-2 (clay), 1-2 to 2 in all others
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: +/- organic mulch
© 1993 David Graber
© 1993 David Graber
A. purissima ‘Burton Mesa’
2-3 ft tall; 4-5 ft wide
Loves sand but tolerates clays; very drought-tolerant
Nice natural shape – requires little pruning
Does well in many gardens
© Project SOUND http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/arctostaphylos-purissima-burton-mesa-
groundcover
A. purissima ‘Petit Margarita’
1-3 ft tall; 3-5 ft wide
Natural variant - hills S. of Lompoc
Similar to Arctostaphylos myrtifolia with its delicate leaves and sprawling habit. Unique and pretty foliage
Use in a small east facing bed or along a cool retaining wall where it can soften the top as it drapes over
Mixing this manzanita into a groundcover of ‘Sunset’ and ‘Harmony’ manzanita would be dramatic planting.
© Project SOUND
A. purissima ‘Vandenberg’
Natural variant
2-3' H x 6-8' W, mounding
Coast: full sun, inland: part shade.
Well-drained soils
Occasional to moderate water – Zone 1-2 to 2 (perhaps even 2-3 in sand)
All the nice characteristics of the species (Large lush green leaves clasp fuzzy stems; abundant flowers) but better garden tolerance.
© Project SOUND
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/arcpurva.htm
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Endemic to western section of the Transverse Ranges, from coastal Santa Barbara County to the San Gabriel Mountains.
Chaparral, coniferous forest from 3,600'-7,000‘
1-3 ft tall; 6+ ft wide
Good heat & cold tolerance; needs well-drained acidic soil – best under oaks & pines
Moderate growth rate
Appears to do well inland, even at lower elevations
© Project SOUND
Parry’s /Snowlodge Manzanita – Arctostaphylos parryana
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3516
http://www.worldbotanical.com/arctostaphylos.htm
For groundcovers: know their spread and
growth rate before you choose
© Project SOUND http://thehumanfootprint.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/california-natives-part-3-groundcovers-manzanitas-ceanothus/
What if you need something that’s a really
low ‘creeper’?
© Project SOUND
http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/and-even-in-winter.html
© Project SOUND
* Kinnikinnick – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
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© Project SOUND
* Kinnikinnick – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3454,3542 http://www.swsbm.com/maps/Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi.gif
Also commonly called Bear Berry
Found throughout the Northern Hemisphere: N. Asia/Russia N. Europe In North America - from the northern
half of California north to Alaska and across Canada and the northern United States to New England and Newfoundland.
In CA – mostly along the N. CA coast
Rocky outcrops, slopes, sandy soils, coastal dunes, chaparral, coniferous forest
© Project SOUND
Size: < 1 ft tall
spreading: 3-15 ft wide
Growth form: Evergreen woody shrub
Very low, dense growth – mat-like
Spreads by rooting stems
Foliage: Like other Manzanitas
Leathery leaves; green but may become red-tinged in winter
Very neat appearing – garden-like
Deer will browse
Roots: fibrous; to 6+ feet depth
© 2005 Steve Matson
© 2007 Matt Below
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/aruv2.htm
Kinnikinnick is another low-growing woody shrub
© Project SOUND
Kinnikinnick - well suited
to garden conditions…
Soils: Texture: best in sandy soils, but
fine in most well-drained soils
pH: any, including quite acidic
Light: Best in part shade; tolerates full
shade (but less flowering)
Full sun only near immediate coast
Water: Young plants: Zone 2-3
Winter: needs good water – deep roots
Summer: Zone 2-3 (best); Zone 2 ok once established
Fertilizer: none
Other: delicate roots; don’t move or compact soils
© Project SOUND
Mainly used as a low
groundcover
Excellent fire-resistant groundcover under trees
Fine on parking strips in virtually all local cities – very low-growing & looks way better than ivy!
Looks nice cascading over a low retaining wall
Combine with rocks and other low groundcovers, perennials
Nice in a large pot or planter – even on shady patios
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/arcuva/arcuva3.html
http://courses.washington.edu/ehuf331/Plant_Pages_subfolders/ERICACEAE.shtml
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/arcuva/arcuva3.html
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Pruning groundcover Arctostaphylos
Most are naturally dense, so don’t need to do anything to promote this
Just trim back when it grows where you don’t want it
© Project SOUND
http://laurries.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html
http://www.hillkeep.ca/ts%20A-B.htm
Medicinal uses The leaves of manzanita/bearberry used internally to reduce the accumulation of uric acid and relieve pain of bladder stones and cystitis.
Bearberry has been reported to be effective against E. coli.
For external use, it has been used as an astringent wash for cuts and scrapes.
Preparation:
Infusion in hot water: 2 tsp leaves/cup – 3 times/day + lots of water to flush system
Make a tincture by allowing the leaves to soak in brandy for 1 week before preparing the infusion.
Add 1 teaspoon of the brandy tincture to one cup of boiling water to make and infusion which can be taken 3-4 times per day.
© Project SOUND
The active medicinal compound in
Arctostaphylos uva ursi is the
Hydroquinone glycoside, Arbutin
© Project SOUND
Several Bearberry and hybrid cultivars available
‘Point Reyes’
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=407
‘Radiant’
‘Wood’s Compact’
http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/Genus/Plants%20A.htm
‘Pacific Mist’
http://www.jamesdeandesign.com/Slide_Show/Pl
ant_Catalog/SHRUBS/
© Project SOUND
http://www.rwa.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=2532&letter=d&return=s_p319
http://www.sm.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=2532&return=l2_aP
‘Pacific Mist’
‘Green Supreme’
The cultivars have very
different ‘looks’ – shop ‘til
you find the right one for
your needs
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Versatile ‘Emerald
Carpet’: groundcover
to very low hedge
© Project SOUND
http://www.pasadena.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=243&return=l8_aK
We’ve come to the end of our journey
© Project SOUND