- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The Common Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita) is one of many species of manzanita, of which there are five species found on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. With at least six subspecies of Common Manzanita, this one (A.m. subs. manzanita) is an endemic shrub found in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills of California.
This plant grows to be a large shrub sometimes reaching over 15 feet in height. The living bark on the long, crooked and twisted branches is deep reddish-maroon in color, but is many times bordered by adjacent twisting dead portions of the branch that are grey in color with growths of lichen. This deadwood is extremely dense and hard ... in a way creating a support structure for the living part of the plant. One might almost envision a growing vine supported by a strong dead piece of wood.
As this early succession-stage plant grows to maturity, it creates a protected environment for later succession plants such as oaks and madrones to become established ... protecting them from direct sun and cold and herbivory by deer.