The plant known as manzanita, which comprises numerous Arctostaphylos species, is native to California, the North Coast region, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The word “manzanita,” which means “little apple” in Spanish, describes the small apples that trail clusters of winter blooms into April.
The majority of this article will address Arctostaphylos manzanita, often known as common manzanita, and offer development principles for a variety of species.
Manzanita Overview Plant
| Genus Name | Arctostaphylos |
| Common Name | Manzanita |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Shrub, Tree |
| Light | Part Sun |
| Height | 8 to 20 Feet |
| Width | 3 to 10 Feet |
| Zones | 10, 8, 9 |
Where to Plant Manzanita
Plant manzanitas in a location with plenty of light and well-drained soil. While different types have varied requirements for siting, all manzanitas require well-drained soil. They cannot tolerate moist soil or standing water.
To prevent water from draining towards the plant, grow manzanitas atop a mounded hill or berm in moister areas. In addition to being excellent xeriscapes plants, manzanitas are excellent at preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides.
They also attract birds and other wildlife, as well as pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Manzanitas are highly variable in their development pace and mature size, influenced by various elements such as soil, climate, fauna, and sun exposure.
When and How to Grow Manzanita
Depending on the cultivar, manzanita planting needs vary, but in general, they should be planted in late autumn or early winter. After deciding on a location, dig a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the root ball of the plant. If at all possible, avoid changing your soil. Manzanitas thrive in poor, infertile soils.
Once the manzanita is in the hole and the crown of the roots is at or slightly below the soil’s surface, remove any excess dirt and replace it with the disturbed material. Add all of the water. When planting large quantities of manzanita, allow five to fifteen feet between each plant.
Manzanita Care Tips
Avoid the temptation to spoil your manzanitas. Although the shrubs’ ideal habitats vary, they almost all thrive on neglect. They range in height from low-growing groundcovers to erect trees.
Light
If at all feasible, plant manzanita in a location where it will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Shrubs that receive partial shadow may grow taller and produce fewer flowers, but they can tolerate less sunlight.
Soil and Water
Clay is one of the several soil types in which manzanitas can grow. Most, however, like their soil to be well-drained and acidic (pH 4.0 to 7.0), without any additions.
In the first year following planting, when the top few inches of soil start to dry out, give your manzanitas a thorough and gentle watering. Although each species will have different preferences, weekly or biweekly irrigation is probably enough. As a result, the plant develops a massive root system.
Temperature and Humidity
The majority of manzanitas like dry, hot summers with temperatures between 55 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, though preferences vary by kind. They have pleasant, wet winters with highs above 15˚. Manzanitas dislike situations with a lot of humidity or moisture.
Fertilizer
These unusual, twisted bushes require no fertilizer. They thrive in poor soils and grow wild without human assistance.
Pruning
While certain manzanita cultivars benefit from careful trimming to keep their attractive shape, several varieties require no pruning at all. Don’t prune the shrub when it is still in bloom; instead, cut off a little portion using sterile, sharp garden shears.
Relatively cut the shrub back to the burl if your manzanita develops a burl, which is a bulging dome of latent buds. This is called regenerative pruning. After trimming your shrub back to the burl, water it thoroughly, being careful not to wet the damaged wood.
Propagation
Cuttings are a more easy way to cultivate manzanita than from seed, although both are possible.
Seed
Manzanita seed propagation is challenging yet rewarding. After being in contact with flames, the seeds begin to sprout on their own. This will chop off the outer fleshy parts of the berries so you can view the seeds, or “nutlets.”
Next, you can plant the seeds in a peat moss and sand flat that is twice as deep as it is broad. After laying the flats on the ground, cover the seeds with three to four inches of pine needles.
To prevent burning the seedbed, place the pine duff on top of it and flame it. It is easier to let them germinate outdoors in the garden because they can take up to a year to sprout. After it has sprouted, you can move it as needed.
Cutting
The best time to gather manzanita cuttings is in the early spring, from March to May when the terminal branches are just starting to sprout new growth.
This form of vegetative multiplication essentially clones the parent plant by trimming immature branches and encouraging them to grow new roots for them to mature into their plant.
Planting
Manzanitas generally do not transfer well because of their strong aversion to disturbance. Handle the roots with extreme caution, and transplant shrubs when they are semi-dormant to avoid transplant shock.
A cutting or sapling must be in a healthy development stage in its container. Its roots should not exhibit any symptoms of root binding and should fill the pot.
How to Transplant
When the plants are not actively growing, late autumn or early winter, is the ideal time to transplant manzanita seedlings.
Spacing
The ideal spacing between common manzanita plants is 5 to 15 feet, depending on the type and desired maturity size. When creating tree-like occurrences, cut off the young side branches from the plant’s base and use a larger spacing.
Different species will differ according to how they grow. To plant uva ursi, three to five feet of area are required. See the websites of your local native plant nursery or university extension office for further details on spacing endemic types in your area.
Pests and Diseases
Manzanitas are quite resilient and rarely have these problems.
Sudden Oak Death
Rarely does the pathogen colonize common manzanita in some areas of northern California. An occasional black border around leaf patches is one indicator of the disease. Entire branches may go brown, deteriorate, and break off.
Both rain splashing and human-transmitted contaminated plant material can propagate the disease. Before planting or dividing a manzanita shrub, make sure it is in good condition. Though there’s no known treatment, some fungicides help lessen the illness’s symptoms. It is essential to carefully remove and burn any infected portions to halt the spread.
Manzanita Leaf Gall Aphid
The larger, pod-shaped galls that resemble manzanita leaves are most likely the result of this grey-green aphid. Aphids feed on new growth, which causes the leaves around wounds to thicken. This results in bright red, bloated galls that eventually become brown.
Steer clear of over-irrigation and plant cutting as treatments. The nutrient-rich sap of manzanitas may attract aphids when they are fertilized, particularly if the fertilizer has high nitrogen content. Neem or horticultural oil is an effective treatment for clustered infestations.
Plant Uses
Manzanita is a popular drought-tolerant landscape plant that grows well in its natural habitat. Suggested to be superfoods in some areas, the fruits are edible. You can eat ripe red berries raw, make cider out of them, jam them, or blend them into smoothies.
The manzanita bush’s berries and leaves were used medicinally by the Native Americans. It’s amazing how well the soaked leaves work to relieve the poison oak rash.
Conclusion
Arctostaphylos is a very resilient and varied genus of shrubs, most of which have twisted, bending branches and distinctive red peeling bark. Manzanitas grow best in areas with hot, dry summers and sandy, well-drained soils.
When transplanting, exercise extreme caution because the plants’ roots are delicate. Select a species that grows naturally in your location, and avoid planting manzanita near your home if wildfires are a regular occurrence there.
FAQ
How come I can’t water my manzanita in the summer?
Manzanitas are very drought-tolerant because they have adapted to areas with few summer showers. Manzanitas can develop robust and large root systems over the summer months without rain.
To maintain the strength of your Manzanita roots and avoid fungal diseases, don’t water it during the sweltering summer months.
What is a burl of manzanita?
Some manzanita shrubs have bulging, bulbous sections at the base that are called burls. The burl contains dormant buds that might resprout after a fire.
Burls are assumed to be caused in part by disease, stress, and low-quality soil, while the actual source is unknown. If you find one on your shrub, you can easily remove it and reseed it by cutting it down to the burl.