# greenleaf manzanita (*Arctostaphylos patula*) The greenleaf manzanita is a lovely shrub with shiny green leaves and beautiful pink flowers. It grows in many places and is great for wildlife, providing food and shelter. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![greenleaf manzanita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arctostaphylos_patula_08399.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_patula_08399.JPG) ## Appearance The greenleaf manzanita has smooth, reddish-brown bark that often peels. Its leathery, bright green leaves stay vibrant all year. It produces clusters of small, urn-shaped white to pink flowers, followed by tiny, red, apple-like berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Arctostaphylos ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples traditionally brewed a refreshing cider from its tart berries! - It forms dense, protective thickets that provide excellent shelter for small animals! - Its smooth, red bark peels like thin paper, revealing even smoother wood beneath! - The greenleaf manzanita's wood is so incredibly dense it actually sinks in water! ## Special abilities - **Fire Shield:** This plant can resprout from its base after fires, helping it quickly reclaim its territory. - **Water Saver:** Its leathery, green leaves are tilted to minimize sun exposure, helping it survive long dry spells. - **Heat Awakener:** Some of its seeds need the intense heat of a wildfire to sprout, ensuring new growth after a burn. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_winter_to_spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — its urn-shaped flowers - **Eats:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — its leaves and twigs - **Eats:** American black bear (*Ursus americanus*) — its small, tart berries - **Shelter:** Wrentit (*Chaemaea fasciata*) — in its dense branches ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring plants and don't touch without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify greenleaf manzanita? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is greenleaf manzanita? 100-500 cm ### How wide does greenleaf manzanita spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on greenleaf manzanita? 0.5-0.7 cm ### When does greenleaf manzanita bloom? Late_winter_to_spring ### Is greenleaf manzanita edible? Yes ### Is greenleaf manzanita toxic? None ### What is greenleaf manzanita's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest - [Atwell Mill Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atwell-mill-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Johnson Lake Mine Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/johnson-lake-mine-historic-district) — Nevada, US · Historic District - [Long Meadow Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-meadow-grove) — California, US · Forest [View all places to see greenleaf manzanita](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/greenleaf-manzanita) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Greenleaf Manzanita: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greenleaf-manzanita)