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Re: Arctostaphylos

> I have had arctostaphylos uva-ursi growing on two slopes for 30+ years.
> This past year most died on the sunniest slope and more recently at least
> half of the plants on my half -day shaded slope have died.  Can anyone
> suggest what might have happened?  <snip!>

It's difficult to say what might be the cause without knowing more 
details. Maybe prolonged drought stress, possibly old age, maybe gradual 
alkalinization of the soil from watering all those years. I've seen 
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi growing wild, and it was on high, stony, acidic 
moorland in the Cairngorm mountain area of Scotland. The plants there 
were forming creeping mats and all looked fairly young, but appearances 
can deceive. I'm just wondering if they are not that long-lived and need 
to re-seed to prolong the population, and that your plants are not 
producing seeds. I'd also test the pH of the soil. Just a few thoughts...

Nick.

Nick Turland
Flora of China Project, Missouri Botanical Garden, 
P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, U.S.A.
Email: nturland@lehmann.mobot.org
Tel.: +1 314 577 0269  Fax: +1 314 577 9438
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