MANZANITAGABINO MARQUEZENH 101 FALL ‘10

CLASSIFICATIONFAMILY: EricaceaeGENUS: ArctostaphylosSPECIFIC EPITHET: manzanitaCOMMON: Common manzanita

•Over 90 wild species• 140 named cultivars

DESCRIPTION

•Tall shrub or small tree•Native to CA, inner Coast Ranges, foothills, Chaparral areas•Grows 6-20 ft high

4-10 ft spread•Crooked branching•Redish bark, smooth•Oval leaves ¾ - 1 ½ in. •Pink or white flowers•Berry like fruit•evergreen

HISTORY/USES•Manzanita has been around a long time….•Dominates chaparral/dry climate areas•Native to CA/other parts of the West•Many Native Americans used manzanitas for variety of reasons

berries: food/drinkleaves: medicinal

purposes wood: tools, building,

firewood

•Supports wildlife with food and shelter

GROWING MANZANITAS

•Zones: 4-9, 14-24,dry, hot climates•Loose, well drained soils•Tolerates heavier soils•Full sun•Drought tolerant•Low-maintenance •bloom: late winter/early spring•Will grow into an awesome tree!

PEST/DISEASES

•Common pests:Aphids, scales, mealy bugs, Flatheaded borers, foliage feeding caterpillars

•Diseases:Canker diseases, Crown and Root rot, leaf gall, Sudden Oak Death

WHY I LIKE IT…

•California native, tough plant•Unique branching pattern•Cool red, smooth bark, strong•Many uses, Native American traditions•And this plant just looks too cool in general!

SOURCES

http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/pdf/Tribal/Tribal_uses_for_Common_Manzanita.pdfhttp://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/manzanita.htmlhttp://bugguide.net/node/view/282048/bgimagehttp://www.californiachaparral.com/boldgrowthchaparral.html

Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. 5th. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press, 2009. 50-57. Print.

Sunset Western Garden Book