The Bigberry manzanita is native to the coastal and inland foothills of California from the Bay Area to Mexico. It is one of the largest of our native manzanitas and commonly grows into a distinctive evergreen shrub with pale gray-green foliage color, mahogany-brown bark and a bold branching structure. Plants have a mounding form, 12-15 ft. high, 15-20 ft. wide. Clusters of showy white flowers occur in spring to be followed by hard 1/2 in. diameter red-brown berries.
Throughout its natural range, Bigberry manzanita is a member of the chaparral plant community where it is adapted to areas having excellent drainage, moist winters and long and dry summers with extended periods of heat and drought.
Bigberry manzanita is a striking plant that needs ample space to grow and works best as a specimen plant in dry garden settings. It requires good drainage and needs little or no summer water once established. It is well suited to inland foothills and valley zones in the Inland Empire in full sun and with warm temperatures.
