manzanita

[man-zuh-nee-tuh]

noun

1. any of several western North American shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Arctostaphylos, of the heath family, having leathery leaves and clusters of white to pink flowers.

2. the fruit of one of these shrubs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of manzanita¹

1840–50, < Spanish, diminutive of manzana apple; manchineel

Example Sentences

He immediately noticed a manzanita tree was still smoking and, when he dug up around the base, he uncovered what he said were “red hot coals.”

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You’ll pass through patches of manzanita and yucca and then forested parts with Coulter pines, all the while with a view of the valley below.

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A dwarf lemon is flourishing nearby, next to large containers holding rosemary, a Mexican lime tree and a small manzanita.

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Last week, I visited Eaton Canyon and observed the blackened manzanita and other chaparral.

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The understory of the ponderosa and sugar pine forest was speckled with manzanita, oak trees and dogwoods with yellow leaves, marking the start of fall.

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