Downy Manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa)

Family: Ericaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Arctostaphylos tomentosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from March to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries, Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Sweet, dry and mealy. — Fruit - raw or cooked.; Sweet, dry and mealy.; An important food for native tribes, it can also be dried for winter use.; When dried and baked into a bread it is relished by the native Indian tribes.

Habitat & North American Range

Sandy places on the edge of Pinus radiata forests and on windy coastal bluffs below 150 metres. (Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10)