Arctostaphylos – Manzanitas

Arctostaphylos is a genus of 60 species, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain species to small trees. Most are evergreen, with small oval leaves arranged spirally on the stems. They produce a profusion of tiny, urn-shaped flowers, white or pale pink in the spring. Borne in small clusters at the branch tips, they persist for weeks. They are followed by small berries, ripening in the summer or autumn. The berries of some species are edible. The bark is the most spectacular feature of a manzanita. Bold and strong, no other shrub can compete with the beauty of a manzanita’s trunk and bark.