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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Arctostaphylos edmundsii

Arctostaphylos edmundsii J.T. Howell

Little Sur Manzanita

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Arctostaphylos edmundsii var. parvifolia, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ssp. emundsii, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. parvifolia

USDA Symbol: ared

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A prostrate to mounded shrub, 1-5 ft. tall, usually attaining a spread of 6 ft. The small, light-green, leathery, glossy leaves are tinged with red. Compact clusters of white to pink, urn-shaped flowers give way to red berries.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Ovate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Height 1 to 5 feet, spread 6 feet or more.
Leaf: Light yellow-green.
Fruit: Reddish-brown 1/4 inch across.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Monterey Co., CA
Native Habitat: Chaparral; coastal bluffs & canyons; below 800 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Poor, dry, well-drained soil.
Conditions Comments: Overhead watering can encourage fungal diseases, causing branches to die back. Plant roots along the stems. Often used as a ground cover. Fast-growing for a manzanita.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Makes a nice ground cover or border.
Use Food: Manzanita berries were used to make a refreshing, cider-like drink by indigenous peoples.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings
Description: Propagation by seed is can be difficult.
Seed Collection: The outer fleshy part of the furit may be removed by macering the fruits with water and separating the nutlets by flotation or air-screening.
Seed Treatment: Seeds of most Arctostaphylos species have hard seed coats and dormant embryos. Scarification (several hours in H2SO4) followed by stratification may improve germination.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Cut back when young to form shape.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1987 VOL. 4, NO.2 - Wildflowers Provide Activity in Summer, Beautiful Colorado Beckons, What is Rese...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Arctostaphylos edmundsii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Arctostaphylos edmundsii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Arctostaphylos edmundsii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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