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Arctostaphylos hookeri (Hooker's manzanita)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Arctostaphylos hookeri G. Don

Hooker's manzanita, Monterey manzanita

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

USDA Symbol: ARHO3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A low-growing shrub, 2-4 ft. high, with a mounded habit. Bark is smooth and reddish-brown. Leaves are light green. Inflorescences are small and few-flowered. The bell-shaped flowers are whitish-pink and are followed by bright red, glossy berries.

The species of this plant is named for William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) who was Director of Kew Gardens from 1841-1865. He wrote “Flora boreali-americana” and many other works. He was founder and editor of the “Journal of Botany”.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Obovate , Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Mucronate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Inflorescence: Raceme
Size Notes: Height 1/2 to 3 feet, spread 6 to 8 feet.
Leaf: Bright green.
Flower: Flowers 1/4 inch
Fruit: Reddish-brown 3/16 inch across.
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Monterey Co., CA
Native Habitat: Sandy, coastal pine or oak woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Horticultural selections of this species are often available.

Benefit

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

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

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 698 - Native Plants for Use in the California Landscape (1978) Labadie, E. L.
Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. Kat

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

Metadata

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

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