Manzanita is one of the most common
chaparral plants of lower-elevation mountainous areas. From far away, it is a pale green mass which impenetrably covers the hot
hillsides. Up close, it is shown to be a
beautiful plant. The leaves are waxy and thick, and sometimes rounded like
poker chips, sometimes enlongated. The
fruits look like small
apples, thus the name 'manzanita'. The
bark is the most stunning part of this plant; it is smooth, shiny orange-red, peeling off to reveal a tan brown beneath. The bark peels off in long,
sinuous patterns, and often the red parts of the twisted branches look almost like
muscles. They are usually large shrubs, but i have seen them at least 20 feet tall in favored areas.
it is almost impossible to get through a hillside covered in manzanita. You would have to crawl through your hands and knees, or slash through with a machete. This plant isn't as thorny as many chaparral plants, but it is very stiff and scratchy to climb through. This plant is quite stunning in the landscape and it's too bad more people aren't planting it in their home gardens.