Arctostaphylos pringlei

Common Names

Pringle Manzanita, Pringle's Manzanita, Pink-Bracted Manzanita, Manzanita

Summary

Native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including Southern California and Baja California, this evergreen shrub or small tree grows on dry, rocky slopes in chaparral and related habitats at elevations around 4,000 to 7,900 ft. It forms gray-green foliage with smooth mahogany-colored bark and can reach up to 16 ft tall and 12 ft wide, sometimes forming dense thickets; it bears pinkish-white urn-shaped blossoms in clusters, followed by red berries, and flowers attract hummingbirds.

It prefers full sun to partial shade, with very low water needs and well-drained rocky soils; it tolerates drought and is hardy to 5°F, with a soil pH of 5.5–7.5. Propagation is by seed or cuttings, and two subspecies exist: drupacea and pringlei. It is used in native gardens, erosion control, and habitat restoration, with flowers attracting hummingbirds and bees and berries consumed by birds and mammals.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-15 feet

Spread

6-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade

Soil Type

Well-drained, rocky, sandy to loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.5-7.5

Bloom Color

Pink, White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Gray-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds