Folk medicine Native Americans in Northern California make a
tisane from manzanita leaves to treat
poison oak rash. The leaves contain chemicals with a mildly disinfectant quality and can be used for mild urinary tract infections. The tree's berries can be turned into a cider by mashing, pouring an equal amount of water over the paste, and then straining it. In Native American cultures, this cider is then used to treat stomach ailments and promote appetite. The berries have also been used to treat bronchitis and kidney problems. The leaves of the manzanita also have many medicinal purposes. Chewing the leaves of the manzanita tree into a poultice can treat open sores and ease headaches after application. Chewing on the leaves, without ingestion, can cure stomach issues such as cramps and aches. Infusions of the leaves can also treat ailments such as diarrhea and severe colds.
Culinary use The berries are edible, and can be harvested en masse and stored. and use the leaves as
toothbrushes.
Landscape use Manzanitas are useful as
ornamental plants in gardens in the western United States and similar climate zones. They are evergreen, highly drought-tolerant, have picturesque bark and attractive flowers and berries, and occur in many sizes and growth patterns.
Arctostaphylos columbiana, for example, is hardy enough for highway landscaping in western Oregon and Washington.
A. 'Emerald Carpet',
A. uva-ursi (the bearberry), and other low-growing manzanitas are valuable evergreen groundcovers for dry slopes. Larger varieties, such as
A. 'Dr. Hurd', can be grown as individual specimens and pruned to emphasize the striking pattern and colors of the branches. They prefer light, well-drained soil, although the low-growing ground covers will tolerate heavier soils.
Decorative use Manzanita branches are popular as decoration due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried. Florists sometimes use them as centerpieces at wedding receptions and other events, often adding hanging votive candles, beaded gems, and small flowers. The
wood is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as
lumber. The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some
furniture and art employ whole round branches, which reduces cracking and preserves the deep red color. The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, on and off the plant. Sunlight smooths and
bleaches manzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal bones. Because of this and the stunted growth of many species, manzanita is often collected in its more unusual shapes, giving it the nickname "mountain driftwood". Manzanita wood is also used as perches for
parrots and other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose. Some
aquarium keepers use sandblasted manzanita as
driftwood in planted aquaria because of its attractive forked growth and its chemical neutrality. It holds up well over extended periods of submersion if properly cleaned and cured. The wood is also resistant to the leaching of
tannins into the water column, a problem often found with other aquarium driftwoods. When used as driftwood, manzanita must usually be weighted down for several weeks or soaked first to counteract the wood's natural buoyancy when dried and cured. The green wood does not float. Manzanita wood, when dry, is excellent for burning in a
campfire,
barbecue,
fireplace, or
stove. It is dense and burns at a high temperature for long periods. However, caution should be exercised because the high temperatures can damage thin-walled barbecues and even crack
cast iron stoves or cause chimney fires.
Other uses During
World War II, manzanita root
burls were used as a suitable native material to make
smoking pipes due to its relation and similar fire-resistant properties to then-unavailable imported
briar. It was labeled as "mission briar" and harvested for the remainder of the war, stopping soon after when supplies of imported briar once again became available. ==Rarity and endemics==