Trees and Shrubs; Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

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

128 seeds per gram ₁₄₆

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 20/30^oC followed by 60-90 days at 5^oC and final incubation in sand, peat, or sand-peat mixtures at 20/30^oC. 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 80^o 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).

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 25^oC 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 20^oC for 90 days then moist chill at 1^oC for 90 days (McLean 1967). Warm stratify at 77^oF for 60 days then moist chill at 41^oF 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 4^oC 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).

Requirements

Length (Years)

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

Etc.)

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 22^oC. 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

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

Sow in early summer and mulch over winter. ₉₇

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

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