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Arctostaphylos manzanita - Parry.

Common Name Manzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof's manzanita, Wieslan
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry coastal slopes and in canyons up to 1200 metres[71, 200].
Range South-western N. America - California.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Arctostaphylos manzanita Manzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Arctostaphylos manzanita Manzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof
(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Arctostaphylos manzanita is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from February to April. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. pungens manzanita. Uva-ursi manzanita.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[3, 46, 61]. An agreeable acid flavour but the fruit is dry and mealy[95]. Hard to digest, the fruit should be eaten in moderation[95]. It can be dried and ground into a powder[105, 161] and then used as a flavouring in soups, bread etc[213, 257]. A cooling drink can be made from the fruit[161]. The berries can be crushed to make a sweet, unfermented cider[257]. The fruit is white but becomes red-brown. These are 12 mm across [1-4].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Appetizer  Astringent  Poultice  Stomachic

A poultice of the chewed leaves is applied to sores and headaches[257]. The leaves are chewed as a treatment for stomach ache and cramps[257]. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat severe colds and diarrhoea[257]. A cider made from the fruit is used in the treatment of stomach complaints and as an appetizer to create appetite[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Fuel  Soap

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[168]. The leaves can be boiled and the yellowish-red extract used as a cleansing body wash[257]. The wood makes an exceedingly fine fuel[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade but plants produce less fruit when they are grown in the shade[200]. Prefers a warm sunny position[3, 166]. Tolerates maritime exposure[49, 166, 182]. Plants are not hardy in the colder parts of Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Pollination is often poor in Britain[3]. Another report says that the plant does not fruit in this country[11]. This species is called A. pungens manzanita by some botanists[11]. A specimen seen at Cambridge B.G. was 2.5m tall in 1989[K]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[11, 134]. They can tolerate long dry periods [1-4].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[11, 200]. Another report says that the seed requires 60 days warm followed by 60 days cold stratification[160]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. Takes one year[1, 78]. Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively. Layering in spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Manzanita, Common manzanita, whiteleaf manzanita.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, North America, UK, USA [1-4].

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arctostaphylos alpinaAlpine BearberryShrub0.1 -  LMSNM21 
Arctostaphylos columbianaHairy ManzanitaShrub1.5 6-9  LMSNM212
Arctostaphylos glaucaBigberry ManzanitaShrub4.0 7-10  LMSNDM223
Arctostaphylos nevadensisPine-Mat ManzanitaShrub0.1 5-9 MLMSNM213
Arctostaphylos parryanaParry ManzanitaShrub1.8 -  LMSNDM101
Arctostaphylos patulaGreenleaf ManzanitaShrub2.0 5-9  LMSNM311
Arctostaphylos pungensPointleaf ManzanitaShrub0.0 -  LMSNDM112
Arctostaphylos stanfordianaStanford's manzanita, Rincon manzanitaShrub1.5 5-9  LMSNDM301
Arctostaphylos tomentosaDowny Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita, Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, SanShrub1.5 7-10  LMSNM333
Arctostaphylos uva-ursiBearberryShrub0.1 4-8 MLMFSNM344
Vaccinium arctostaphylosCaucasian WhortleberryShrub3.0 5-9  LMSNM300

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Parry.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

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Readers comment

   Apr 18 2010 12:00AM

is the manzanita found around Redding, CA eatable? Also, your site states that it helps stomach problems. I take Nexium; and was wondering (not asking medical advice) "if you've heard" that in emergencies, eating manzanita (if I don't have any Nexium), would be a reasonable substitute for Nexium?

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