Arctostaphylos manzanita

Arctostaphylos manzanita produces clusters of small, urn-shaped white to pale pink flowers from late winter into early spring, attracting hummingbirds, native bees, and other early pollinators before developing reddish-brown berries. Smooth, leathery leaves are gray-green to rich green and remain evergreen throughout the year, creating a dense canopy above handsome mahogany-red bark that becomes increasingly sculptural with age. The twisting branches and colorful bark provide enduring texture and visual interest long after the flowering season.

Native to the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills of California, this species is a characteristic component of chaparral and open woodland habitats. It is well suited to native gardens, dry slopes, rock gardens, and wildlife plantings, where its evergreen foliage, ornamental bark, seasonal flowers, and berries provide year-round beauty and habitat value.