# hairy manzanita (*Arctostaphylos columbiana*) The hairy manzanita is a special shrub with beautiful, reddish-brown bark and shiny green leaves. It grows small, pinkish flowers that turn into tasty berries, making it a favorite for birds and other animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![hairy manzanita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arctostaphylos_columbiana.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. NoahElhardt assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_columbiana.jpg) ## Appearance The hairy manzanita has reddish-brown, smooth bark that peels, and distinctive hairy stems and leaves. Its clusters of tiny, bell-shaped pink or white flowers ripen into bright red berries, standing out against its leathery, evergreen foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Arctostaphylos ## Interesting facts - "Manzanita" means "little apple" in Spanish, referring to its small, apple-like berries! - Its bark constantly peels away in thin strips, revealing new, smoother, reddish layers underneath. - Native peoples traditionally ground the dried berries into a meal or made a refreshing cider drink. - This evergreen shrub can live for hundreds of years, becoming a grand, gnarled fixture in its habitat. ## Special abilities - **Fire Fighter:** Hairy manzanita can resprout vigorously from its woody base after wildfires, helping it thrive in fire-prone landscapes. - **Water Saver:** Its fuzzy leaves and stems trap moisture and reduce water loss, allowing it to survive dry, arid conditions. - **Sun Shield:** The thick, leathery leaves are angled to minimize direct sunlight, protecting the plant from intense solar radiation. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Winter-early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar from its bell-shaped flowers. - **Eaten by:** [California Thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-thrasher) (*Toxostoma redivivum*) — Feeds on its sweet, ripe berries in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its evergreen leaves and twigs. - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Sips nectar from early blooming flowers. ## 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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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 look but don't touch the plants in nature. Some can be prickly or have berries that aren't safe to eat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify hairy 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 hairy manzanita? 100-500 cm ### How wide does hairy manzanita spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on hairy manzanita? 0.5-0.7 cm ### When does hairy manzanita bloom? Winter-early spring ### Is hairy manzanita edible? Yes ### Is hairy manzanita toxic? None ### What is hairy manzanita's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Sooke Potholes Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-potholes-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Cypress Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cypress-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Koksilah River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koksilah-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Mount Wells Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-wells-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Sooke Mountain Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-mountain-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see hairy manzanita](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-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: [Hairy Manzanita: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-manzanita)