About Arctostaphylos manzanita Parry
Arctostaphylos manzanita has bright, shiny green leaves that are wedge-shaped and pointed. Its small white flowers are only a quarter inch long, cup-shaped, and hang upside down. Its fruits are berries: they are white when new and turn red-brown as summer progresses. The bark covering its long, crooked branches is reddish, which makes this shrub easy to identify as a manzanita. It grows into a twisted tree reaching about 15 feet in height. Like other manzanita species, this plant has hard, attractive wood that is useful for making tools and as firewood. The fruit of Arctostaphylos manzanita is edible and has a pleasant tart flavor, but its seeds cause gastrointestinal upset if eaten in large quantities. Historically, the fruit has been brewed into cider, including by Native Americans. The fruits are also eaten by bears and chipmunks.
