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Native Plant Database

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Arctostaphylos pungens (Pointleaf manzanita)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Arctostaphylos pungens Kunth

Pointleaf manzanita, Mexican Manzanita

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

USDA Symbol: arpu5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Rounded shrub, often forming dense thickets. Branches with smooth red-brown bark.

A number of small mammals and ground birds eat the berries of this plant.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Leaf: Dark Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft. , 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: Across the Southwest from California and Nevada to Texas.
Native Habitat: Mixed shrub and sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woods, drained sandy to gravelly areas, canyons, lower mountain slopes.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Berries consumed by mammals and birds.
Use Food: Manzanita berries were used to make a refreshing, cider-like drink by indigenous peoples.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Nectar Source: yes

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Arctostaphylos pungens is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Splendid royal moth
(Citheronia splendens)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. Kat

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

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

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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