Trees and Shrubs; Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

 

Species: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Common name and alpha code kinnikinnick or bearberry ARUV
Propagation Method (Seed, Vegetative) Vegetative 51 Layering, heel cutting 123 Seed, but vegetative is easier. 129
Miscellaneous

 

 

 

Ericaceae; heath family

Berries edible by wildlife and humans. Leaves used by Native Americans, unpalatable to wildlife. 160

Many species of manzanita sprout from massive woody crowns after being burned. The seeds of some species germinate after fires. 146

Native evergreen prostrate shrub with branches to 15 cm long. 139

Low shrub with woody stems 8 cm high, branches up to 75 cm long, mat forming. Leaves are dark leathery green. 97

TABLE: SEED
Seeds/Lb. 26,800-58,000 cleaned. 12 lbs. of seeds per 100 lbs. fruit 129

128 seeds per gram 146

Germ %

 

In ref #129: 30-50% with immersion in H2SO4 3-6 hrs, then daytime (8 hrs) temperature 86oF, nighttime (16 hrs) temperature 68oF, for 16 days (Barton 1961, Giersbach 1937). 61% with immersion in H2SO4 6 hrs, then 24-hr temperature of 77oF for 16 days (Glazebrook 1941).

Pregermination treatments that have been used on A. uva-ursi seeds include immersion in sulfuric acid followed by both warm stratification and prechilling. Duration of acid scarification ranged from 3-6 hrs, with 60-120 days warm stratification at 20/30oC followed by 60-90 days at 5oC and final incubation in sand, peat, or sand-peat mixtures at 20/30oC. After all this preparation roughly 50% germination was attained. It has been suggested that the type of substrate used for warm stratification is important. 146

Manzanita seeds are difficult to germinate. Seeds usually have hard seed coats and dormant embryos. Scarify A. uva-ursi seeds in H2SO4 for 3-6 hrs followed by warm-moist stratification at 80o F for 60-120 days, and finally cold-moist stratification at 410F for 60-90 days. These treatments produced 50% germination. 145

In ref #139: 93% in 25 days (Glazebrook 1941); 75% (Swingle 1939); 65-76% (Giersbach 1937a).

Germ Test Amt  
Germ Test Cost  
Purity %  
Purity Test Amt  
Purity Test Cost  
Germination Pretreatment Requirement

 

 

Good germination has been obtained for some species by soaking them for 2-5 hours in H2SO4 and sowing them in the ground in early summer. The seeds germinate the following spring. Seedbeds should be mulched over winter.  145

At the base of each seed there is a channel that is plugged at seed maturity with a material that is slightly softer than the woody covering of the nutlet. Acid scarification dissolves or softens this material so the seed can germinate. The polymorphic nature of the seed makes the optimum duration of the scarification process difficult to determine. Acid scarification of sufficient duration to induce some seeds to germinate undoubtedly kills some seeds and fails to clear the blocked channel on others in the same seed lot. Another approach to the germination of manzanita seed is to burn 7-10 cm of pine needles on a flat that has been sown with nutlets. Results were highly variable depending on the moisture content of the planting soil and the depth of planting. Dry soil, shallow planting (0.5 cm) and leaving the flats outside over winter after burning gave the best results for A. patula. 146

In ref #139: Soak in sulfuric acid 2-5 hrs and plant in early summer or warm stratify at 25oC for 60-120 days then moist chill for 60-90 days (Milstein & Milstein 1976, Berg 1974). Soak in sulfuric acid for 7 hrs then warm stratify at 20oC for 90 days then moist chill at 1oC for 90 days (McLean 1967). Warm stratify at 77oF for 60 days then moist chill at 41oF for 60 days, or soak entire stones in sulfuric acid for 3-5 hrs (Babb 1959). Soak in sulfuric acid for 6 hrs, then warm stratify at room temperature for 60 days, then moist chill at 4oC for 60 days (Glazebrook 1941). Soak in sulfuric acid for 3-5 hrs (Swingle 1939). Soak in sulfuric acid for 3-5 hrs then overwinter outdoors in mulch frame (Giersbach 1937a).

Seed Processing Needed e.g. Awns The outer fleshy part of the fruit may be removed by macerating the fruits with water and separating the nutlets by flotation or air screening. 145
Storage

Requirements

Dry at room temperature 139
Storage

Length (Years)

 
Maturity Date Seed maturity June-Aug 139
Pollinators  
Seed Dispersal Mechanism Animals, from late summer until the following spring. 129
Breeding: self; Cross; Asexual Reproduction  
Disease Problems  
Insect Predation  
Hand Collection Methods, Problems and Cost/Lb.

 

 

Collect fruits by hand from the plants or pick up off the ground. 145

Manzanita fruits ripen in the fall in the interior and mountainous areas. They consist of 4-10 stony seeds that may be separate or variously coalesced into a single solid stone. 146

Best to collect in late fruit development 139

69% sound seed, dormancy due to hard seed coat and embryo which needs after-ripening. 139

TABLE: SEED INCREASE INFO
Sow Rate for Seed Increase Plantation, Lb./Acre  
1st Year Yield, Lb./acre  
2nd Year Yield, Lb./acre  
Field Life Span: Years  
Production Cost/Lb.  
Field Distance Requirements  
Sow Date  
Miscellaneous Increase Info. Seeds can take 2 years to germinate. 123
TABLE: VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
Type of Material (Age, Plant Part,

Etc.)

 

 

2-3" branch tips can be propagated in a frame with bottom heat (Mirov & Kraebel 1937). 139

Stem or root cuttings in the fall. Stem cuttings should consist of all available new growth plus a portion of one-year-old tissue. Plant immediately into a sandy mixture and place in an intermittent mist irrigation greenhouse at 22oC. Root cuttings should be 5-10 cm long, buried horizontally in peat, moistened and placed in a greenhouse. 97 Layered or rooted cuttings are the surest means of propagation. Heel cuttings, tgreated with hormone, strike best when taken in February, but late summer to late fall cuttings work well too. Well-rooted cuttings are ready for transplanting to potting soil in containers in 2-3 months. When collecting propagating material from the wild, the freely branched tips of the trailing shoots can by cut with shears and wrapped in moist toweling for the trip home. 223192

Size of Material to Collect  
Season of Collection  
Collection Method  
To Nursery: Storage and Shipping Requirements  
Miscellaneous Vegetative Propagation Info.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prostrate shrub with rooting branches. 129

Cuttings of A. nevadensis were treated and placed in vermiculite in a mist bed with 60% shade for several weeks. Older cuttings not treated with indolebutyric acid exhibited fair root production, 43% survival, and little new growth. Pretreatment: 1) 1-yr-old or current season’s growth + 0.8% indolebutyric acid powder dip; 2) 1-yr-old or current season’s growth without indolebutyric acid; 3) Older growth + 0.8% indolebutyric acid powder dip; 4) Older growth without indolebutyric acid. One-gallon containers containing peat/perlite/composted soil mix held over in lathhouse after greenhouse-grown cuttings are established. 138

Layering or rooted cuttings are the surest method. Heel cuttings, treated with hormone, strike best when taken in February, but late summer to late fall cuttings work too. Well-rooted cuttings are ready for transplanting to potting soil in containers in two to three months. 192

TABLE: NURSERY PRODUCTION (See also J. H. Stone Nursery Desk Guide, reference # 185)
Nursery Stock Type; Container Size  
Cost/1,000  
Number of Growing Seasons  
Grow Specifications  
Miscellaneous Nursery Production Info.

 

Planting time: Early summer for following spring (Milstein & Milstein 1976); early summer (Berg 1974); immediately after scarification (Swingle 1939). Shade or sun. Coarse to rocky soil texture, shallow, dry, well drained. 5.0-6.5 soil pH. Seeds will germinate in 20-40 days. Mulch seedbeds. Manzanitas are easier to propagate from cuttings than seed. 139

Sow in early summer and mulch over winter. 97

TABLE: HABITAT
Plant Association Groups

 

Cool, moist grand fir communities, under lodgepole pine where cold air drainage occurs. Regeneration may be difficult following logging of bearberry sites. 160

Prefers sun or partial shade, usually found under pine. 97

Drought Tolerance  
Soil: Texture, Chemicals Common on sandy soil and glacial till in cool, moist canyon bottoms 160

Well-drained sandy and gravelly soils 97 Adapted to a variety of soils, does well on sands and sandy loam. 213134

Soil Depth  
Ave. Precip. Needs 18 or more inches of Precip. per year. 213134
Flooding or High Water Tolerance  
Soil Stabilization Mat-forming characteristics make it good for erosion control 160.
Palatability and Attractiveness to Animals; Response to Grazing Unpalatable 160. Red berries are relished by bears, grouse, and wild turkeys. 34
Elevation Range Throughout western U.S. from sea level to 2500 m. 97
Competitiveness  
Plasticity  
Root System: Rhizomes, Stolons, etc. Easily roots at intervals along prostrate stems 192
Shade tolerance Thrives in full sun and low summer moisture once established 192
TABLE: CONSERVATION SOWING OR PLANTING ON N.F. SITES
Sow Rate for  Sowing on National Forest Sites, Lb./Acre  
Sowing Method and Date  
Planting Density, Spacing  
Planting Method and Date  
Animal Damage Control in Plantings  
Miscellaneous