Share

Native Plant Database

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.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper

Hairy manzanita

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonyms: Arctostaphylos columbiana var. tracyi, Arctostaphylos tracyi

USDA Symbol: ARCO3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is an erect, much-branched, 5-10 ft. shrub with fuzzy, light-green foliage on a broadly spreading, oval crown. Evergreen leaves clothe the end of each twig, leaving the rest of the branching system naked. Bark is smooth and dark, red-brown. Flower clusters are short and dense with whitish-pink corollas. Berries are bright red and slightly velvety. A gnarled shrub of the coniferous forest understory.

Black Bears, deer, coyotes, and other mammals eat the fruits of this shrub, which is most abundant in southern Oregon. Difficult to grow
Beautiful evergreen shrub, resembles Arbutus.

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Pubescence: Tomentose
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Flowers Bisexual , Monoecious
Leaf: Dull green
Flower: Flowers 1/2 inch
Fruit: Red, Brown
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Coastal areas from n. CA to s. B.C.
Native Habitat: Dry, wooded, rocky or clay slopes below 2500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: One of the faster growing manzanitas.eautiful evergreen shrub, resembles Arbutus.

Benefit

Use Food: Manzanita berries were used to make a refreshing, cider-like drink by indigenous peoples.
Use Other: Young shoots were used by indigenous peoples to make fire drills.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Description: Hormone-treated cuttings in sand-peat are effective for propagation. 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

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

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
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back