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Arctostaphylos pungens
Arctostaphylos pungens Kunth
Pointleaf Manzanita, Mexican Manzanita
Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Synonym(s): Arctostaphylos chaloneorum, Arctostaphylos pseudopungens, Arctostaphylos pungens ssp. chaloneorum
USDA Symbol: arpu5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jan , Feb
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UTNative 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.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight 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)
Splendid royal moth (Citheronia splendens) ![]() Adult Food Source |
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
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
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
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 pungens in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Arctostaphylos pungens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Arctostaphylos pungens
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-17Research By: TWC Staff