Common Name: Bigberry Manzanita

General Information

Arctostaphylos glauca is an evergreen shrub growing 1 - 6 metres tall; sometimes, especially in coastal regions, becoming a tree up to 8 metres tall with a rounded to irregular crown[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental, especially within its native range, because it is resistant to heat, drought, and cold[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-western N. America - California, Baja California

Habitat

Rocky slopes, chaparral, woodlands; at elevations from 300 - 2,200 metres[]. Dry slopes below 1500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Arctostaphylos glauca grows in a mediterranean-type climate, with hot, dry summers and wet, mild winters[]. Plants are tolerant of winter temperatures falling to around -5 to -10°c[].
Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[, , ] but plants produces less fruit when they are grown in the shade[]. Prefers a warm sunny position[, ]. Found on dry soils in the wild, one report says that it succeeds in a hot dry position.
Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[].
Plants commence fruiting when around 20 years old, yields increasing with age to the extent that 90 year old plants yield around 15 times more fruit than 23 year old plants[].
Plants can live for more than 100 years in the wild[].
This species can hybridize in the wild with Arctostaphylos pungens and also with Arctostaphylos glandulosa[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Dry and with little flavour[]. The fruit is used fresh or it can be dried and ground into a powder then used to make mush or added to soups etc[, , , ]. It can also be used to make preserves or a beverage that resembles cider in flavour[]. A drink is made from the berries by sprinkling them with water, kneading them with the hands, mashing them and then soaking them in the sun for about 12 hours. The liquid is then sieved to remove the pulp before being drunk on its own or with Chia (see Salvia columbiana). Water could be drained through the pulp a second time. The liquid was said to be sweet and fattening[]. The globose fruits are 12 - 15mm in diameter[].

The seeds can be dried, ground into a powder and used to make a mush or cakes[]. The seed is rather small, it would most probably have been used together with the fruit and not have been separated from it[].

Medicinal

The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[]. A tea made from the dried leaves is strongly astringent, diuretic and an antiseptic for the urinary tract[, ]. It is much used for kidney and bladder complaints and inflammation of the urinary tract, but it should be used with caution[, , , ] because it contains arbutin which hydrolyzes into the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone[]. Externally, an infusion is used to treat poison oak rash[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is of value for the rehabilitation of disturbed watersheds because the widespreading roots bind surface layers of soil[].
The leaves and litter of this plant contain toxic amounts of arbutin and phenolic acids. These compounds allelopathically inhibit the germination and growth of annuals for a distance of 100 - 200cm from the edge of the canopy drip line[].

Other Uses

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[].

The branches have been used to make a broom[].

The wood is hard and tough. It is used for making small tools, awl handles etc[].
The wood makes a good fuel, producing a lot of heat and burning for a long time[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Arctostaphylos seeds, especially if not sown fresh, are generally stimulated into germinating by one of two methods. The most effective is fire passing quickly over seeds that are lying dormant in the soil - this breaks down their surface coat allowing them to imbibe moisture when it next rains and then germinate. Alternatively, stomach acids act upon the seed coat when the fruit is eaten by various animals - the seed frequently passes through the gut unharmed and is deposited in a convenient pile of nutrients when the animal defecates - the seed will often still benefit from a period of winter cold before germinating in the spring. Both of these methods can be somewhat reproduced by the gardener - the seed can be placed under some straw which is then set alight - both seeds and ashes should be sown. Alternatively, pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water will have somewhat the same effect as stomach acids. Follow this treatment with a cold stratification at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[, ]. The seed will then usually germinate in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots, being very careful no to damage the roots, and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter, Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, late summer to early winter in a frame. Takes one year[, ].
Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively.
Layering in spring[].