Big Berry Manzanita is a large woody shrub or tree native to central California and Baja California that can reach heights of 8-12 feet. It has blue-green to gray-green evergreen leaves and produces pink-white urn-shaped flowers in winter clusters that attract pollinators. The shrub forms a mounded habit but can be pruned into a multi-trunk tree. It is drought tolerant, low maintenance, and provides habitat for birds and insects with its berries and foliage.

1. Big Berry Manzanita – Arctostaphylos glauca (ark-toh-STAF-ih-los GLAW-kuh )
Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Native to: Foothills under 4500 ft from central CA to Baja. Locally in Santa Monica & San Gabriel Mtns; in
rocky soils in chaparral and lower elevation woodlands.
Growth characteristics: large woody shrub/tree mature height: 8-12+ ft. mature width: 8-12 ft.
Evergreen shrub with mounded habit. Bark red-brown, peeling in age. Leaves blue-green to gray-green,
simple, rounded, leathery. Leaves usually upright on branches. May be trained up to a multi-trunk tree –
lovely, open architectural-looking form. Inhibits growth of plants underneath it.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in winter/early spring (Dec-Mar). Flowers are typical for Manzanita: small, urn-
shaped flowers, pink-white in color, in dense clusters. Flowers tract wide range of pollinators:
hummingbirds, butterflies, bees.
Uses in the garden: Excellent choice for slopes, natural areas. Makes a lovely multi-trunked tree if
pruned up. Interesting bark, leaves and flowers make this a favored specimen plant. Does best away
from the coast in hotter gardens. Fruits are edible – make a cider-like drink or use in jellies. Cultivar ‘Los
Angeles is from L.A. County foothills.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native drought tolerant trees like Crepe Myrtle.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: provides nectar, cover and berries – attracts wide range of pollinators
and other insects, fruits eating birds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to light shade
Soil Well-drained; rocky or sandy soil best; any local pH – alkali soils fine.
Water Regular water (Zone 2-3) first year, then little to none (Zone 1 or 1-2).
Fertilizer None needed.
Other Organic mulches recommended.
Management: Prune out dead branches in summer. Begin to prune to open tree form, beginning to
shape in the second year if desired. Plant needs good air circulation.
Propagation: from seed: difficult; heat treatment, cold treatment by cuttings:tip cuttings, summer
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 6, 8, 12-14 20, 24 6/27/11
© Project SOUND

2. Arctostaphylos glauca
Bigberry Manzanita