Bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) is a large evergreen shrub to small tree and is recognized as California's official state shrub. The leaves are large and light gray-green. In spring hanging bunches of urn-shaped white flowers cover the stems. Insects and hummingbirds love the flowers, and the fruit attracts all sorts of wildlife. The edible fruit, the largest of any manzanita, is round or egg-shaped and light red. This is a long-lived manzanita, moderate to slow growing. It can reach 100 years of age or more, and does not begin to fruit until it is around 20 years old. It grows to 3 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 20 feet wide, with interesting twisting branches and smooth red bark that readily peels.
It is best to plant bigberry manzanita on rocky slopes, avoiding south-facing slopes. It will usually do better if planted near large rocks, or at least with rocks placed around it. It prefers well-draining, acidic soil. It thrives in sun or part-shade. After the first year, direct summer water will often kill this plant.