I noticed a few days ago that the common manzanita (its “common” name, really), Arctostaphylos manzanita, is already blooming. This is the first species of manzanita, whether a local native or a garden cultivar, that I have seen blooming around Redding this season.
People in our area often confuse common manzanita with greenleaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, probably because the leaves are “greener” than our most prevalent whiteleaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida. Sort of confusing. The greenleaf manzanita is smaller and found at colder, higher elevations in the foothills of the Klamath and Sierra Mountains. For more information on manzanitas and why more gardens should feature them, Len Lindstrand III and Michele Driggs wrote enlightening and interesting articles for Shasta CNPS about our local native manzanitas and the cultivar Howard McMinn manzanita, respectively.
When I see these early winter whitish-pinkish flowers, I think how relieved the hummingbirds and early flying native bees must be to now have a natural source of nectar. The ants in the photo on the urn-shaped flowers remind me of the obscure fact that hummingbirds consume large quantities of small insects and spiders, up to 2,000 per day, especially during migration and their current breeding season. They eat ants, aphids, beetles, gnats, leafhoppers, caterpillars, fruit flies, mosquitoes, and tiny spiders. The females need the protein, vitamins, minerals, and fats for creating healthy eggs and raising their chicks.
Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor at the University of Delaware’s Department of Entomology and a huge proponent of native plants said, “Hummingbirds like and need nectar but 80 percent of their diet is insects and spiders. … If you don’t have those insects and spiders in your yard, it doesn’t matter how many hummingbird feeders you have, you are not going to be able to support hummingbirds.”
The bottom line – Grow a garden that provides wildlife with food, shelter, and water during all seasons. Since native plants have evolved with the local insects and spiders, this symbiotic relationship will provide the most resources for all wildlife, and you will enjoy much entertainment, beauty, and wonder.
The dilemma – Where can you purchase a manzanita for your garden? Unfortunately, the Ghost Pine Native Plant Nursery does not have manzanita in the current inventory. The Turtle Bay Nursery has some species, and Floral Native Nursery in Chico often carries many species.
Happy gardening!
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