# Stanford's Manzanita (*Arctostaphylos stanfordiana*) Stanford's Manzanita is a lovely shrub with shiny green leaves and beautiful pink flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in California's forests and hills. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests and hills ![Stanford's Manzanita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arctostaphylosstanfordiana.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stickpen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylosstanfordiana.jpg) ## Appearance The Stanford's Manzanita is a striking evergreen shrub with smooth, mahogany-red bark that peels in thin flakes. It has small, leathery, oval leaves and clusters of tiny, urn-shaped flowers that range from white to pink. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Arctostaphylos ## Interesting facts - Its name "Manzanita" means "little apple" in Spanish, referring to its tiny, apple-like berries! - Native Americans traditionally used parts of the Manzanita plant to make special teas and medicines. - The amazing smooth, red bark of the Manzanita feels cool to the touch even on a hot day! - The wood of the Manzanita is so incredibly hard and dense, it can actually sink in water! ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** Stanford's Manzanita has thick, waxy leaves that hold onto water, helping it thrive in dry, sunny environments and long, hot summers. - **Fire Fighter Friend:** This plant can regrow from a special woody base (burl) after wildfires, allowing it to survive and flourish in fire-prone areas. - **Winter Green:** Stanford's Manzanita keeps its green leaves all year long, letting it make food from sunlight even when other plants are bare. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.4-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Winter to Early Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on its urn-shaped flowers, aiding in reproduction. - **Eats:** [California Thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-thrasher) (*Toxostoma redivivum*) — Consumes its small, apple-like berries for energy. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its evergreen leaves, especially in winter. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring nature to protect plants like the Manzanita. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Stanford's 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 Stanford's Manzanita? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Stanford's Manzanita spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on Stanford's Manzanita? 0.4-0.8 cm ### When does Stanford's Manzanita bloom? Late Winter to Early Spring ### Is Stanford's Manzanita edible? Yes ### Is Stanford's Manzanita toxic? None ### What is Stanford's Manzanita's lifecycle? Perennial ## 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: [Stanford's Manzanita: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stanfords-manzanita)