# Whiteleaf Manzanita (*Arctostaphylos viscida*) The Whiteleaf Manzanita is a special shrub with shiny, white leaves. It grows in sunny places and has beautiful pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Whiteleaf Manzanita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arctostaphylos_viscida_9780.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arctostaphylos_viscida_9780.JPG) ## Appearance The Whiteleaf Manzanita is a shrub with smooth, reddish-brown bark that often peels. Its distinctive leaves are pale green to yellowish-green, oval, and often feel sticky. Small, urn-shaped flowers bloom in clusters, typically white or light pink, contrasting with the pale foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Arctostaphylos ## Interesting facts - Its smooth, red bark feels surprisingly cool to the touch, even on a hot, sunny day! - Its unique urn-shaped flowers rely on 'buzz pollination' by bees to release their pollen! - Native peoples once ground manzanita berries into flour or brewed them into a tangy cider. - The wood of very old manzanitas is so incredibly dense that it will actually sink in water! ## Special abilities - **Fire Rescuer:** Whiteleaf Manzanita can regrow from a special underground burl after devastating wildfires, helping it survive and thrive. - **Sticky Shield:** Whiteleaf Manzanita has sticky leaves that can trap small insects and deter plant-eating animals, protecting itself from harm. - **Water-Wise Warrior:** Whiteleaf Manzanita has tough, leathery leaves often covered in fine hairs to reduce water loss in dry, sunny environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Winter to early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its winter flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Performs 'buzz pollination' on the unique flowers. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its leaves and twigs, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats the small, red, berry-like fruits when ripe. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to touch the sticky leaves too much; they are meant to help the plant. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Whiteleaf 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 Whiteleaf Manzanita? 100-400 cm ### How wide does Whiteleaf Manzanita spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Whiteleaf Manzanita? 0.5-0.7 cm ### When does Whiteleaf Manzanita bloom? Winter to early spring ### Is Whiteleaf Manzanita edible? Yes ### Is Whiteleaf Manzanita toxic? None ### What is Whiteleaf Manzanita's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [San Joaquin Experimental Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-joaquin-experimental-range) — California, US · Forest - [Empire Mine State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/empire-mine-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Shorty Lovelace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shorty-lovelace-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Yosemite Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yosemite-valley) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/malakoff-diggins-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see Whiteleaf Manzanita](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/whiteleaf-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: [Whiteleaf Manzanita: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/whiteleaf-manzanita)