Columbian Manzanita
October 21, 2022
By Adam Huggins
Columbian Manzanita
Arcostaphylos columbiana
- Hul’qumi’num Name: qi’qun’aanlhp
- Description: Evergreen shrub with contorted stems up to 3m tall. Older branches have a rich, red bark that flakes and peels. Urn-shaped flowers yield clusters of dry, red berries.
- Habitat: Dry rock outcrops, ridgelines, and well-drainage slopes.
- Harvest: Berries can be harvested in summer.
- Edibility: The dry berries are sweet and can be ground into a sugar substitute, seasoning, or ‘lemonade’.
- Fun Fact: Qi’qun’aanlhp requires fire or other disturbance to germinate its seeds. It is among the earliest flowers in spring, feeding newly emerging pollinators.
