Native Plant of the Month: Brittleleaf Manzanita
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Last December, we shared an article on manzanitas, a beautiful and diverse group of evergreen shrubs that is concentrated in California. This year, we highlight one of our local manzanita species: the Brittleleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos crustacea).
About Manzanitas
As detailed in last year’s article, manzanitas are renowned for their smooth, red bark and elegant branching form. Their pink, urn-shaped flowers bloom in early winter, providing an important source of nectar for hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies.
The sheer diversity of manzanita species means you are likely to find one that can fit into your garden, whether as a focal point plant, a hedge, or even a groundcover.
Notice the large mass of dormant buds at the base of the plant. This is the “burl” of the brittleleaf manzanita. The burl re-sprouts if the upper stems and branches are destroyed by fire. Pretty amazing!
About Brittleleaf Manzanita
Brittleleaf Manzanita is native to the California coast from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara and is the most common manzanita in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is a variable and diverse species, with several subspecies that differ in leaf and stem hairiness.
The main identifying characteristic of Brittleleaf Manzanita compared to other nearby manzanita species is its burl.
This large mass of dormant buds at the base of the plant re-sprouts if the upper stems and branches are destroyed by fire. You will often see large, old burls with multiple stems growing out of them, indicating a history of burning and re-sprouting. Big Berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) and Santa Cruz Manzanita (Arctostaphylos andersonii), which often grow alongside Brittleleafs, do not have burls and rely solely on seeds to reestablish after fire.
Growing Brittleleaf Manzanita at Home
Brittleleaf Manzanita grows slowly into a large shrub up to 8 feet tall and about 10 feet wide at maturity. Unlike many other manzanitas, they can tolerate clay soil. They are typically found in sunny to partly shaded areas, often at the transition zone between woodland and chaparral.
Bark of Brittleleaf Manzanita
Flowers of Brittleleaf Manzanita
Where to Find Brittleleaf Manzanita
Brittleleaf manzanita is abundant throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. They can be found at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, including on Valley View Fire Road and Madrone Fire Road. They also grow alongside Big Berry Manzanita on Mt. Umunhum in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve.
Our nursery grows native plants including Brittleleaf Manzanita using cuttings carefully sourced from local watersheds.
See our latest inventory for online plant sales here:
By Stanley Gu, Ecologist
