Manzanita
Arctostaphylos spp.
Twisting red bark and winter flowers for early bees; no summer water, please.
Hardiness: zones 7 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 6 ft wide
From: W. North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: California, Pacific Northwest. Hardy in zones 7 to 10.
The story
Manzanita means little apple in Spanish, for the small russet fruits. The mahogany bark is smooth and cool to the touch, and the plant is so tuned to California's dry summers that kindness with the hose will kill it.
Planting
Full sun, sharp drainage and no soil amendment. Plant in fall, a little high.
Growing
Water through the first summer only, then stop. Never fertilize. Prune as little as possible.
Harvest and use
Pink and white urn flowers in midwinter feed hummingbirds and the first bumblebee queens. California peoples made a tart cider from the dried berries.
What to watch for
Summer irrigation and rich soil cause root rot.
See if Manzanita fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home