We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Arctostaphylos tomentosa - (Pursh.)Lindl.

Common Name Downy Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita, Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, San
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Sandy places[71] on the edge of Pinus radiata forests and on windy coastal bluffs below 150 metres[166].
Range South-western N. America - California.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Arctostaphylos tomentosa Downy Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita,  Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, San


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Arctostaphylos tomentosa Downy Manzanita, Woollyleaf manzanita,  Brittleleaf manzanita, Dacite manzanita, Rosy manzanita, San
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Arctostaphylos tomentosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from March to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. cordifolia. A. vestita. Arbutus tomentosa.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Seed
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 92, 105, 161]. Sweet, dry and mealy[61]. An important food for native tribes, it can also be dried for winter use[177]. When dried and baked into a bread it is relished by the native Indian tribes[2]. If harvested when not quite ripe, it can be used like a tart apple[2]. A cooling sub-acid drink can be made from the fruit[2, 257]. The fruit is about 8 - 10mm in diameter[200]. Seed - ground into a powder and used to make mush, biscuits etc[92, 257]. The seed is very small and would be difficult to separate from the fruit. It would be easier to dry the whole fruit, grind this into a powder and use it in soups etc[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Appetizer  Astringent  Diuretic  Stomachic  Urinary

The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[4]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[4]. A tea made from the dried leaves is strongly astringent, diuretic and an antiseptic for the urinary tract[4, 222]. It is much used for kidney and bladder complaints and inflammation of the urinary tract, but it should be used with caution[4, 21, 46, 172] because it contains arbutin which hydrolyzes into the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone[222]. An infusion of the bark powder has been used in the treatment of lung haemorrhages[257]. A cider made from the fruit has been used as an appetizer to create appetite and treat stomach complaints[257]. Although the report does not specify, the cider was probably unfermented[K].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Dye  Wood

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[168]. The wood is used for making fine furniture[61].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam[11, 166, 200] in sun or semi-shade but plants produce less fruit when they are grown in the shade[200]. Tolerates maritime exposure. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Very closely related to A. columbiana but with a more southerly range[11]. Plants can regenerate after a forest fire from a mallee-like base[166]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[11, 134].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[11, 200]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. The cuttings are very slow and can take a year to root[1, 78]. Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively. Layering in spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (California)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arctostaphylos alpinaAlpine BearberryShrub0.1 -  LMSNM21 
Arctostaphylos columbianaHairy ManzanitaShrub1.5 6-9  LMSNM212
Arctostaphylos glaucaBigberry ManzanitaShrub4.0 7-10  LMSNDM223
Arctostaphylos manzanitaManzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof's manzanita, WieslanShrub2.0 7-10  LMSNDM313
Arctostaphylos nevadensisPine-Mat ManzanitaShrub0.1 5-9 MLMSNM213
Arctostaphylos parryanaParry ManzanitaShrub1.8 -  LMSNDM101
Arctostaphylos patulaGreenleaf ManzanitaShrub2.0 5-9  LMSNM311
Arctostaphylos pungensPointleaf ManzanitaShrub0.0 -  LMSNDM112
Arctostaphylos stanfordianaStanford's manzanita, Rincon manzanitaShrub1.5 5-9  LMSNDM301
Arctostaphylos uva-ursiBearberryShrub0.1 4-8 MLMFSNM344
Vaccinium arctostaphylosCaucasian WhortleberryShrub3.0 5-9  LMSNM300

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Pursh.)Lindl.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Arctostaphylos tomentosa  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.