SafePlants

Whiteleaf Manzanita: A Detailed Overview

This page provides an overview of Whiteleaf Manzanita, exploring its taxonomy, distribution, and ecological role.

Considerations for Pets

• Manzanita is a shrub with branches that can be long and crooked.

Considerations for Children

• Manzanita is a shrub with branches that can be long and crooked.

Scientific and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos manzanita and Arctostaphylos viscida
• Common Names: Common Manzanita, Whiteleaf Manzanita, Sticky Manzanita, Blue Bearberry

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Ericaceae (Heath)
• Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
• Class: Magnoliopsida (Magnoliopsida)
• Order: Ericales (Ericales)
• Synonyms/Alternate Scientific Names: Arctostaphylos manzanita Parry, Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita, Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. laevigata

Distribution and Habitat

• Whiteleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) grows from Kern County north to about the Oregon Border.
• It is primarily found in Northern, Southern, and Central California.
• It thrives on dry, sunny slopes at low to mid-elevations.
• Typical habitats include chaparral, oak woodlands, and mixed-conifer forests.
• Often found on mountain slopes, roadsides, or serpentine barrens.
• Also found in southwestern Oregon.

Ecological Role

• In some contexts, Whiteleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) is considered an obstacle to afforestation.
• It has competitive interactions with herbs, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is an evergreen shrub growing to approximately 2 meters (6 feet) in height and width, though some can grow to be 6-12 ft tall.
• It has long, crooked branches.
• The bark is smooth and dark red-brown.
• Young twigs are pale green coated with white.
• Leaves are alternate, simple, and persistent, and relatively small (1 to 1½ inches).
• Flowers bloom from February to April.
• Some varieties lack a burl.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It has competitive interactions with Douglas-fir, herbs, and ponderosa pine.
• Sticky whiteleaf manzanita commonly hybridizes with other species.

Additional Information

• Hardy to zone (UK) 8.

Resources

• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Arctostaphylos viscida.
• iNaturalist.org offers classification information for Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita.
• American Forests National Tree Register recognizes a champion Whiteleaf Manzanita of Oregon.