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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
shrubs

Arctostaphylos columbiana (hairy manzanita)

Category: 
shrubs

Hairy manzanita (photo by Moralea Milne)

Erect or spreading, bushy to single-stemmed, evergreen shrub up to 3 m tall. Young twigs and leaves are very hairy, while older branches have rich reddish-brown bark that flakes and peels. Leaves alternate, egg-to lance-shaped, 2-5 cm long, greyish-green in colour and hairy all over but particularly on the under surface. Flowers white to pink, urn-shaped, 6-7 mm long, produced in the spring in hairy clusters borne on the end of the branches. The fruit is a small (6-8 mm across), smooth, blackish-red spherical berry. Hybridizes with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi where their ranges overlap. Resulting hybrid, Arctostaphylos X mediahas intermediate characteristics (Pojar et al., 1994). Photo by Moralea Milne.

Scientific Name: 

Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper

Family: 
Ericaceae
English Name: 
hairy manzanita

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Dry sunny sites such as rock outcrops and rocky slopes. Occurs along the coastal ranges from Sonoma County, California to the Puget Lowlands and Vancouver Island (Pojar et al., 1994)

Soil Texture: 

Dry, well-drained sandy and rocky soils preferred.

Nutrients: 

Poor soil nutrient regime (Ministry of Forests, 1994). Like other members of the Ericaceae family, has an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal (Baker, 2003).

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

Acidic soils of pH 4-6.5

Moisture Regime: 

Very dry to dry sites. Will grow in moister areas providing soils are well-drained.

Shade Tolerance: 

Full sun to light shade.

Successional Status: 

Late seral to climax in dry open coastal forests.

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 

In BC, range confined to just north of Vancouver and to the southern portion of Vancouver Island (Kruckeberg, 1982). Characteristic of the Coastal Douglas-fir zone (CDF and CDFmm), especially the dry sub-zone (Green and Klinka, 1994). Also occurs in the Costal Western Hemlock zone (CWH) (Klinkenberg, 2004). Hairy manzanita is often found with other ericaceous plants such as huckleberry, salal and Pacific madrone. Other common species include Oregon grape (Mahonia spp.), snowbrush (Ceanothus spp.), vine maple (Acer circinatum), beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax), various penstemon species, Oregon stonecrop (Sedum oregonese), and various fern species (Baker, 2003).

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Has potential for land reclamation use on droughty, sunny sites.

Wildlife: 

Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar. The fruit is eaten by many birds and mammals.

Landscaping: 

Small size, pink flowers, beautiful bark, evergreen leaves and exotic shape gives it great appeal as a landscape plant. The hybrid X media, with its smaller stature, may be more suitable for the urban garden.

First Nations: 

Berries were eaten by some peoples, but are said to cause severe constipation (Pojar et al., 1994). Tea made from the leaves was used to treat diarrhea (USDA, NRCS, 2001). Wood was burned at ceremonies because it gives off a very bright flame (Hansen, 2002).

Other Uses: 

Wood has an attractive grain and colour, and is used for small-scale craft, carving and woodworking purposes. Contorted branches are made into unusual walking sticks (www.nwplants.com/plants/shrubs/arc_col_index.html).

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

May-June

Fruit Ripening Time: 

July-August

Seed Collection Time: 

August

Crop Intervals: 

2-3 years

Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 
n/a
Seed Viability: 

<10%

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 

Fruits may be hand stripped or picked off the ground. Soak fruits in water and then macerate by hand or blender. Pulp can be removed by flotation, or the whole mixture may be dried and the seeds extracted by screening or a fanning mill (Meyer, 2002).

Seed Storage: 

Seeds retain viability for long periods in nature; thus stored seeds should retain viability for ten years or more. Seeds should be dried and stored at 2-4º C.

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

Embryo dormancy is not common. All seeds exhibit seed coat dormancy, which is broken in nature by passing through the digestive system of an animal or by the effects of ground fires. Seeds should be scarified mechanically or by acid treatment (Meyer, 2002). The possible use of fire in dormancy treatment needs investigation, since it has been postulated that, while heat may erode the seed coat allowing water absorption, leachates from the burned vegetation may enhance germination.

Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative propagation from stem cuttings is the most effective means of propagating this species. Dormant winter cuttings are best taken between January and March. Cuttings should be terminal shoots with about 2-4 cm of woody stem from the previous season's growth. Cuttings should be dipped in rooting hormone, planted in a moist peat:perlite (2:1) mixture and misted until roots develop. Since hairy manzanita does not transplant well, rooted cuttings should be planted directly into one gallon pots and grown to planting size.

Method Success Rate Time of Collection
Softwood cuttings Good March
Spring or early summer
Semi-hardwood cuttings Good September, October
Mid to late summer
Hardwood cuttings Good November, December, January
Mid winter when the plant is dormant
Root cuttings Poor Late winter or early spring
Suckers Good Cuttings from side shoots of the current season's growth, 5-8 cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. Takes one year.
Plant division Poor. The plant dislikes root disturbance. Division in early spring. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively.

 

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Plant into organic-rich soils or use acidified fertilizers in urban plantings. Do not plant in areas subject to water-logging to prevent crown rot. Water every four to six weeks during establishment but avoid overhead watering which may cause foliage diseases. Rock mulches may be used to control weeds and stabilize the soil.

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.