When does Bigberry Manzanita bloom?

It typically flowers from January through March, producing clusters of small urn-shaped pink and white blooms before most other chaparral shrubs open for the season.

What pollinates Bigberry Manzanita?

Bees work the flowers for pollen and nectar, and hummingbirds visit the blooms as an early-season nectar source.

How much water does Bigberry Manzanita need?

It is drought tolerant and prefers low water once established, doing best in well-drained soil without regular summer irrigation.

What light conditions does Bigberry Manzanita prefer?

Full sun is ideal, though it can tolerate part sun or light shade, particularly in hotter inland locations.

Is Bigberry Manzanita toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bigberry Manzanita as toxic to livestock.

Is Bigberry Manzanita HOA-friendly?

Bigberry Manzanita is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Bigberry Manzanita

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Arctostaphylos glauca

Last reviewed: September 2026

Bigberry Manzanita is an evergreen shrub of California chaparral and foothill slopes, blooming from January through March with small pink and white urn-shaped flowers. It grows best in full sun with low water once established.

Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Bigberry Manzanita as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

72"–240" H × 72"–240" W

Bloom

Jan, Feb, Mar

Native to

Pollinators

bees, hummingbirds

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains Mojave Basin and Range Sonoran Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Bigberry manzanita is a large, evergreen shrub with distinctive reddish-brown bark and leathery gray-green leaves. It produces clusters of white to pink urn-shaped flowers in winter to early spring followed by large red berries. This drought-tolerant plant can grow into a substantial specimen reaching 6 to 20 feet in height and width.

Growing Bigberry Manzanita

Grow Bigberry Manzanita in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 72 to 240 inches tall and spread 72 to 240 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bigberry Manzanita is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: backyard only, mid zone.

Very large size may overwhelm small front yards
Slow-growing and difficult to maintain at a smaller size
Natural growth habit can appear too wild for formal landscapes

Wildlife value

The winter to early spring flowers provide important nectar for bees and hummingbirds when few other plants are blooming. The berries are consumed by birds and mammals, making it a valuable wildlife plant.

Common questions

When does Bigberry Manzanita bloom?: It typically flowers from January through March, producing clusters of small urn-shaped pink and white blooms before most other chaparral shrubs open for the season.
What pollinates Bigberry Manzanita?: Bees work the flowers for pollen and nectar, and hummingbirds visit the blooms as an early-season nectar source.
How much water does Bigberry Manzanita need?: It is drought tolerant and prefers low water once established, doing best in well-drained soil without regular summer irrigation.
What light conditions does Bigberry Manzanita prefer?: Full sun is ideal, though it can tolerate part sun or light shade, particularly in hotter inland locations.
Is Bigberry Manzanita toxic to dogs?: Bigberry Manzanita is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Bigberry Manzanita toxic to cats?: Bigberry Manzanita is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Bigberry Manzanita toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bigberry Manzanita as toxic to livestock.
Is Bigberry Manzanita HOA-friendly?: Bigberry Manzanita is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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