Arctostaphylos glauca

Big Berry Manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca is an evergreen shrub to small tree, with red-brown bark, 7-10' foot high and wide. It will be lower and wider where there is snow.

A gray green foliage that can look white if you make the plant happy. If the plant gets some water or fertilizer it will be greener, but shorter- lived. Native to middle coast ranges to Palm Springs area. In certain areas of California, this is one of the few manzanitas that can extend from a mountain climate to a desert climate, and be at home in both. Big berry manzanita is native in its range with Arctostaphylos parryana, Atriplex canescens, Juniperus californica, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Rhamnus californica, R. ilicifolia, Pinus sabiniana, P. monophylla, Artemisia tridentata, Haplopappus linearifolius, Adenostoma fasciculatum, Sambucus mexicana, Salix lasiolepis,  S. laevigata,  Quercus agrifolia, Q. chrysolepis, Q. alvordiana, and Q. dumosa. Sometimes Arctostaphylos glauca grows with an understory of Salvia sonomensis.

Arctostaphylos glauca does well in heavier soils but also excels in  decomposed granite. Needs water for the first year, then quite drought tolerant.

Partially ripe berries make good manzanita jelly. This manzanita is more susceptible to red leaf spot gall near the coast. Big berry Manzanita is very effective in desert areas, stunning in the San Joaquin Valley, and tolerates alkaline or serpentine soil well. Young, unprotected plants made it through here this year at -4 F., with the ground frozen to 15". A one gallon plant will commonly make a 3 foot manzanita tree in two years.

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