| Common Name | Latin Name | Plant Family |
|---|---|---|
|
Bigberry Manzanita |
Arctostaphylos glauca |
Ericaceae |
A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[168].
The branches have been used to make a broom[257].
The wood makes a good fuel, producing a lot of heat and burning for a long time[257].
The wood is hard and tough. It is used for making small tools, awl handles etc[257].
Cultivation & Habitat
Seed – best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 – 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 – 5¡c for 2 months[11, 200]. The seed usually germinates in 2 – 3 months at 15¡c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter, Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of side shoots of the current season’s growth, 5 – 8cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. Takes one year[1, 78].
Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively.
Layering in spring[200].
Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[3, 11, 200] but plants produces less fruit when they are grown in the shade[200]. Prefers a warm sunny position[3, 166]. Found on dry soils in the wild, one report says that it succeeds in a hot dry position.
Hardy to between -5 and -10¡c, succeeding outdoors in the milder parts of Britain[200].
Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[134].
South-western N. America – S. California.
Become ungovernable, break the chains of the matrix; grow and forage your own food and medicine.
*None of the information on this website qualifies as professional medical advice. Take only what resonates with your heart and use your own personal responsibility for what’s best for you. For more information [brackets] [000], see bibliography.