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    • Photo of Arctostaphylos columbiana form by Noah Elhardt

    Photo by Noah Elhardt

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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    Arctostaphylos columbiana

    Also Known As

    • 'Blue River Manzanita
    • Hairy Manzanita

    Plant type

    shrub

    size

    • H: 5'-10'
    • W: 5'-10'

    planting zones

    • 8a-10b

    More Options

    Arctostaphylos columbiana plant details

    Arctostaphylos columbiana is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub with blue and green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge followed by orange and red fruit. Attracts bees, birds and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - bright shade and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, average, clay, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, verticillium wilt resistant and wind tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Arctostaphylos columbiana

    Plant type: shrub
    Plant family: ericaceae
    Foliage: evergreen blue and green
    Mature size: 5 FT - 10 FT - wide, 5 FT - 10 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in spring
    Uses: border plant, distinctive bark, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Arctostaphylos columbiana

    USDA Zones: 8a - 10b
    Sun exposure: sun - bright shade
    Watering frequency: occasional - low
    Resistant to: deer, heat, verticillium wilt and wind
    Soil needs: acidic, average, clay, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    This stunning 3-10' shrub is native to the coastal areas from northern California to British Columbia. Commonly called the 'hairy' manzanita for the erect hairs which appear on the smaller twigs and that the silvery-green, oval-shaped leaves are also fuzzy. Exquisite mahogany colored bark makes a fine contrast to the leaves and flowers. The small, white, urn-shaped flowers become the 'little-apple' red drupes manzanitas are named for. To germinate, the seed requires either fire or consumption by animals. S/D/GDr

    By: Forestfarm

    From our collection during a fun day in October, '06 with Neil Bell: rounded form and clean foliage; evergreen 6' T & W.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Evergreen shrub, gray leaves, pink-white bell-shaped flowers, mahogany red bark when mature. Zone 7-9. 3'-6', PNW, part shade-sun, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    It may be hairy, but don't worry, this plant won't shed! One of four Arctostaphylos species native to Washington, A. columbiana may eventually reach a height of 8 - 10' in gardens. It is ornamental at all seasons, with beautiful blue-green to greyish leaves, racemes of pendulous white spring flowers, red berries in fall, and of course the peeling cinnamon bark and alluring rugged branch structure shared by all manzanitas. Although best on a sunny slope, it will even tolerate a little shade, and in gravelly soil it can endure a great amount of rain (as it does in the wild in Mason County), as long as it can go dry for a little while in summer. Cold tolerance varies according to the origin of the plant: the more northerly, inland, and higher up, the colder temperatures it ought to be able to tolerate. In general, plants from the Oregon Coast can be expected to have hardiness in the 0 - 5 °F range, while plants from the interior mountains of Washington ought to handle -10 °F and perhaps a little lower.

    By: The Desert Northwest

    Gardening facts about Arctostaphylos columbiana plant

    How to Grow Arctostaphylos columbiana

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - bright shade

    • Water Needs

      • occasional - drought tolerant

    • Water Needs

      • dry in summer

    • Soil Needs

      • clay
      • acidic
      • adaptable
      • average
      • lean
      • well-drained
      • rocky
      • gritty

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • wind tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green
      • blue

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • birds
      • bees
      • hummingbirds
      • deer resistant

    • Fruit

      • red
      • orange

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

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