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Arctostaphylos

bearberries and manzanitas

Ericaceae

Western North America; A. uva-ursi circumboreal

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Arctostaphylos spp. is a genus of about 60 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Ericaceae, the majority native to western North America, especially California, with A. uva-ursi circling the cooler Northern Hemisphere. The genus spans prostrate, mat-forming bearberries a few inches high to upright manzanitas 20 feet (6 m) tall, most with smooth, dark red to mahogany bark that peels in thin flakes. The small leathery leaves are usually oval and held more or less upright to limit water loss. Clusters of urn-shaped flowers, white to pink and 0.2 to 0.3 inch (5 to 8 mm) long, hang at the branch tips in late winter and spring. They ripen into small round fruits resembling tiny apples, green then red to brown, which give the Spanish name manzanita, little apple. A. uva-ursi is grown as a hardy evergreen ground cover, while shrubby manzanitas are planted in dry gardens for their bark and form. Most need acidic, sharply drained soil and little summer water once established, and many decline in rich soil and with overwatering.

Native Range

Native mainly to western North America, with the center of diversity in the California Floristic Province. A. uva-ursi has a circumboreal range across North America, Europe, and Asia, reaching far north.

Suggested Uses

Grown as evergreen ground cover, in rock, gravel, and dry gardens, on banks for erosion control, and as feature shrubs for their bark. A. uva-ursi is used in cold-climate and coastal plantings. The early flowers support bees and hummingbirds, and the fruit feeds birds and mammals.

How to Identify

Recognized by smooth, dark red to mahogany bark that peels in flakes, small leathery evergreen leaves often held upright, and clusters of urn-shaped white to pink flowers in late winter and spring. The round fruits look like miniature apples. Habit ranges from flat mats to upright shrubs and small trees.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 20'

Width/Spread2' - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering occurs in late winter and spring, generally January to April depending on species and climate. The nodding urn-shaped flowers open early and draw bees and hummingbirds. Fruits ripen through summer and into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pink

Foliage Description

green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Time to Maturity

3 to 10 years to mature size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Arctostaphylos spp. species grow in full sun to light shade on acidic, gritty, sharply drained soil and tolerate poor, rocky ground. They are adapted to dry summers and decline with rich soil, summer irrigation, or poor drainage, which bring on root diseases. Soil pH from 4.5 to 6.5 suits the genus. A. uva-ursi tolerates cold and coastal exposure and spreads to form a dense mat, while many Californian manzanitas are frost-tender. Established plants need little or no summer water in their native climate.

Pruning

Pruning is light, removing dead or crossing stems and shaping young plants after flowering. Manzanitas are trained over years to show their bark and branch structure. Cutting into old leafless wood is avoided, as regrowth from bare stems is sparse.