Arctostaphylos x media

Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos x media
Common Name: manzanita
Family Name: Ericaceae
Distribution/Origin: Pacific Northwest

Description:
The genus Arctostaphylos is part of the large rhododendron family (Ericaceae). Their urn-shaped flowers resemble those of such related and common Northwest garden shrubs as Pieris and heaths (Erica and Calluna) as well as our native Vaccinium and Gaultheria. The upright, symmetrical leaves of manzanita are distinct among evergreen shrubs: rounded and waxy, many with a sharp apical tip, they are nearly always held perpendicular to the sun’s face, an adaptation that helps plants limit moisture loss during the West’s dry summers. The foliage comes in a fascinating array of colors, from felted gray and silver to sage and bright glossy green. On some, the new growth takes on dramatic tints of orange, coral, and red, adding to the appeal of the plants. From midwinter into spring, clusters of pink to white, urn-shaped flowers appear in profusion at the branch tips and persist for weeks in the cool air. Small rounded fruit follow and ripen by summer, often with a blush on one side. Resembling tiny apples, they were christened “manzanita” (little apples) by the Spaniards when they first visited California. The fruits range in color from rust orange to brown, red, and maroon. Though showy, they are often quickly consumed by birds and other wildlife, even in home gardens. Its bark is the most spectacular feature of a manzanita. Smooth and muscular trunks and branches twist and turn with the illusion of motion. In most species, the thin bark buckles and splits, rolls up into ribbons, and then exfoliates in early summer; the new bark becomes darkened and streaked before achieving its final smooth texture by mid-summer. The hue varies from mahogany, deep maroon, or red to nearly black, and orange. Bold and strong, no other shrub can compete with the beauty of a manzanita’s trunk and bark. Some Arctostaphylos species develop an enlarged area called a burl at soil level; new shoots emerge from the burl following fire or extreme drought, or from extensive pruning to rejuvenate a plant in the garden. 

Soil: Acidic, Well-drained
Moisture: Low, Drought tolerant,*Dry when dormant,*Dry in summer
Sun: Full sun, Partial sun
Exposure: Partial shade

Landscape uses: Native planting, Low shrub, Ground cover, Woodland margin

Pest Susceptibility: Galls, Rust, Fungal leafspot

Notes: Native plant, Broadleaf evergreen, Unique hybrid of two native species. This name is given to the natural hybrids of A. uva-ursi and A. columbiana