Plant Library

Description:

A densely leafed large shrub or small tree; dainty white flowers in winter followed by large red berries; tolerates alkaline soils; drought tolerant once established; sculptural branches make it a great accent plant

Ornamental Features

Big Berry Manzanita features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late winter to mid spring. It has grayish green evergreen foliage. The oval leaves remain grayish green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Big Berry Manzanita is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Big Berry Manzanita is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Big Berry Manzanita will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.

Big Berry Manzanita makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.