: The fruit is a small, berry-like drupe, often red or brown, consumed by various wildlife including birds, rodents, and bears. Ecology and Fire Adaptation
: The leaves are typically leathery and evergreen. In many species, leaves tilt on their edges during summer heat to reduce water loss. arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos species are highly adapted to fire-prone environments like chaparral. : Species generally fall into two categories: : The fruit is a small, berry-like drupe,
: A low-growing groundcover favored for its dense green foliage. commonly known as
Arctostaphylos , commonly known as , is a genus of roughly 60 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the heath family ( Ericaceae ). Native primarily to western North America—from British Columbia to Mexico—these plants are iconic for their smooth, dark mahogany or purplish-red bark and small, urn-shaped flowers. The name "Manzanita" is Spanish for "little apple," referring to the small red fruits many species produce. Physical Characteristics
: The Presidio Manzanita ( A. montana ssp. ravenii ) was famously reduced to a single wild specimen in San Francisco before being successfully cloned.
Manzanitas are popular in low-water landscaping due to their striking structure and drought tolerance :