Manzanitas are malleable and can be shaped however you want, as long as you don't overprune, according to Geoffrey Coffey. The taller varieties can be sculpted to reveal their branching structure, or else left to grow bushy. A general partner at
The best time to prune manzanitas is summer, Coffey said. You can remove dead and crossing branches for a cleaner look, or leave them to provide added cover for nesting birds.
California has about 75 species of manzanitas, and many more hybrids, subspecies, and named cultivars.
Every season showcases manzanitas's special qualities. In spring, softer new leaves emerge, often lighter in color or tinged with red, contrasting with bunches of tiny applelike fruits. In summer, the smooth red-brown bark is covered in paper-thin curls, like a snake shedding its skin. In fall, the new bark shines as rains wash away the shreds. And in winter, the delicate urn-shaped clusters of pink to white flowers, a favorite of hummingbirds, are some of the first to bloom.
To propagate your plants, early spring is the best time to take cuttings, Coffey said. Cut a 4-inch segment from fresh new growth, strip the leaves from the bottom half, dip in rooting hormone, and put in a well-draining medium, such as sand, perlite, or vermiculite. Keep it moist but not wet. After 3 to 4 months, check for roots.
Since many of the manzanitas most adaptable to gardens are named cultivars, cuttings are the only way to propagate them. But for species, seeds offer an opportunity to see what the genetic lottery delivers. For instance, I've seen gardeners succeed with bigberry manzanita seeds. To get one plant, put 3 or 4 seeds in the ground, at least 4 to 6 inches apart, then thin to the strongest plant by cutting the weaker ones at ground level. Planting in situ from seed will enable the plant to grow steadily without danger of having its roots traumatized by transplanting.
When planting a container-grown plant, Coffey said, handle the roots as little as possible. Instead of trying to untangle any roots that are circling the pot, cut them. Don't try to spread the roots out or shake out any soil. The less you touch a manzanita's rootball, the better its chances of survival.
Coffey calls manzanita's growth rate medium, though in the first year the plants appear to stay small because they are directing all their energy to sending down the deep tap root that will enable them to become drought tolerant after the second year.
For the first year, Coffey recommended deep watering every two weeks through summer to encourage a deep taproot. As with most native trees and shrubs, the best time to plant is from the winter rains until April. Planted at other times of the year, the plants will need to be monitored more carefully.
If gophers and deer are a problem, protect the plant for its first year, when it is most vulnerable.
Groundcover manzanitas are happier with regular haircuts once or twice a year, Coffey said. He suggested pruning out any long, floppy stems to allow light and air to reach the center of the plant.
Though manzanitas can live for 75 years, they want fire after they reach 30 years, Coffey said. That's why it s best to plant the shrubby varieties at least 30 feet away from the house.
© 2009 Tanya Kucak