This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Arctostaphylos glauca
  • Bigberry Manzanita

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Arctostaphylos genus in the family Ericaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid
    Very acid to Acid
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Arctostaphylos glauca has 0 edible uses listed
Arctostaphylos glauca has 0 material uses listed
Arctostaphylos glauca has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked[1]. 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[2][3][4][5]. It can also be used to make preserves or a beverage that resembles cider in flavour[4]. 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[5]. The fruit is dry and with little flavour[6]. The seeds can be dried, ground into a powder and used to make a mush or cakes[5]. The seed is rather small, it would most probably have been used together with the fruit and not have been separated from it[K].

Unknown part

Drink

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[7].

The branches have been used to make a broom[5]. The wood makes a good fuel, producing a lot of heat and burning for a long time[5].

The wood is hard and tough. It is used for making small tools, awl handles etc[5].

Unknown part

Broom
Dye
Fuel
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of complaints[8]. These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat[8]. A tea made from the dried leaves is strongly astringent, diuretic and an antiseptic for the urinary tract[8][9]. It is much used for kidney and bladder complaints and inflammation of the urinary tract, but it should be used with caution[8][10][11][12] because it contains arbutin which hydrolyzes into the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone[9]. Externally, an infusion is used to treat poison oak rash[5].

Unknown part

Antiseptic
Astringent
Diuretic
Skin

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[13][14]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[15]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on 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, August to December in a frame. Takes one year[16][17]. 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[14].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Arctostaphylos glauca. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[1][13][14] but plants produces less fruit when they are grown in the shade[14]. Prefers a warm sunny position[1][18]. Found on dry soils in the wild, one report says that it succeeds in a hot dry position.

Hardy to between -5 and -10°c, succeeding outdoors in the milder parts of Britain[14].

Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[15].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Arctostaphylos glauca. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Arctostaphylos glauca.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos glauca
Genus
Arctostaphylos
Family
Ericaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[8][9][10][11][12][5]
Material uses & Functions
[7][5]
Botanic
[13][19][14]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    4 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-5531-7 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.85.9 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    13. ? 13.013.113.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.414.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
    16. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    17. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    18. ? Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
    19. ? Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press (1959-00-00)

    "image:Arctostaphylos glauca.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Arctostaphylos_glauca&oldid=75177"
    Facts about "Arctostaphylos glauca"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyEricaceae +
    Belongs to genusArctostaphylos +
    Has common nameBigberry Manzanita +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Fruit +
    Has edible useDrink + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has imageArctostaphylos glauca.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBroom +, Dye +, Fuel + and Wood +
    Has mature height4 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiseptic +, Astringent +, Diuretic + and Skin +
    Has primary imageArctostaphylos glauca.jpg +
    Has search namearctostaphylos glauca + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid + and Acid +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameArctostaphylos glauca +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +