Arctostaphylos hookeri G. Don

Hooker's manzanita, wayside manzanita, Monterey manzanita, Raven's manzanita


USDA ARHO3


Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / after botanist Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker


CA

Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, elliptical to somewhat leanceolate, to 1 1/2 inches long, leathery, entire margins, pointed at tip and generally rounded at base, bright green above and below, often they are arranged nearly vertically.
Flower: Perfect, urn-shaped, 1/4 inch long, pinkish-white, occurring in tightly grouped hanging cluster at the ends of twigs in early spring.
Fruit: Small, less than 1/4 inch round, brick red, berry-like drupe that resembles a tiny apple, maturing in the summer and persistent.
Twig: Young twigs are yellow green and sparsely hairy, later they become dark red and smooth, buds are small and pointy.
Bark: Smooth, glossy, reddish brown.
Form: A thicket forming low shrub that is generally one foot tall may may reach 6 feet, with numerous crooked branches.



Site: Found near the California coast on dunes and dry bluffs between Marin and San Luis Obispo.

Tidbits:  This species is gaining popularity as a patio plant, but it does not tolerate large temperature swings.  

Show A. pungens 
Other manzanitas are generally larger, have broader leaves and larger fruit, and form a basal burl (that increases their tolerance to fire).


Status code 1

1 3 0 0 0 2




alternate
fleshy
pink white
broadleaf
NULL
simple
unlobed
entire
ovate lanceolate
1
thick
straight fuzzless pubescense 
NULL
narrow broad
1
scaly short tall
unarmed
NULL
NULL
shrub
dry mesic