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Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) Manzanitas do well in dry, exposed conditions. There are several species in Marin County, but in general they have a beautiful smooth-skined red trunk and branches. Leaves, about 1½ inches long, are often stiff and pointed. Below you’ll see how to recognize Manzanita in general, which is pretty easy, and how to start telling apart separate species, which can get pretty tricky.
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Field ID Tips · Flat, oval, pointed leaves about 1½” long. Leaves can be fuzzy. · Lovely white or pink dangling flowers, less than ½” long, hanging in clusters. · New leaves can be bright red, as in the photo to the right.
Hoary Manzanita flowers.
Shatterberry Manzanita
Shatterberry flower is divided in 4.
All other manzanita flowers in 5s.
Manzanita inner bark is dark red, and often is peeled back. A Similar Plant: The Madrone, a tree, also has a bright red trunk. However, its leaves are much larger (3” or more), and have noticable, often red, stalks. Different Kinds of Manzanita
on the south side of Mt. Tam: · If you see a burl at the base of the red trunk, or little reflexed wings at the base of the flower, you’re probably looking at an Eastwood Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa). · If you find a flower on the ground, examine its base. If it is divided in 4 instead of 5, it is a Shatterberry (Arctostaphylos nummularia). · If your manzanita is very low to the ground, you may be looking at a Hoary Manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens). See second picture to the right. DS says to look for a shell-pink bloom and smooth silvery leaves. Links: Marin Chapter, Native Plant Society “Arctostaphylos species in Marin” |
Early in the year, new growth can appear as bright red leaves. This is Hoary Manzanita.
Hoary Manzanita is low to the ground. Flowers bloom early in the year, and are light pink.
Eastwood Manzanita often has a burl at the base, and generally grows quite a bit taller than Hoary Manzanita. |
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