Plant Highlights

Bigberry Manzanita is an evergreen shrub or small tree with interesting twisting branches and smooth red bark that readily peels. The leaves are pale gray-green. Young twigs appear waxy green. Leaves on the Bigberry are alternate, simple, 1 to 2 inches long, leathery, oval to ovate in shape, entire margins, whitened bluish green on both surfaces, and are generally oriented upright. The flower on this Manzanita is urn-shaped, pinkish white, appearing in terminal clusters in late winter and early spring. The fruit is round, sticky, 1/2 inch apple-like drupe, little pulp over a number of fused nutlets, ripening in late summer. A tasty jelly can be made from the fruit. It is a long-lived species, reaching 100 years of age or more, and it does not begin to fruit until it is around 20 years old.