Manzanita Trees, Centerpieces and Wedding Trees
Manzanita branches are prized for making centerpieces and manzanita trees for weddings and other decorations. Manzanita is a slow growing small tree that produces very dense, hard, strong wood. It grows into heavily branched and forked shapes that are beautiful and usually an open form that makes them ideal for hanging ornaments and decorations. The branches are also strong and stiff so they will hold a lot of weight without breaking or bending much.
Manzanita trees can be bought with either natural or with a finished surface. It can be used with its natural bark surface, sandblasted to bare wood, or painted. The smooth thin reddish bark is unique in color and texture and is attractive and durable enough to be used without any kind of finish. When they bark is removed the wood underneath is a creamy white and it too is beautiful without lacquer or any kind of finish.
It is also common to paint a manzanita tree, which can of course make them available in any color. For weddings silver is a common wedding tree color. The wood or bark can also be oiled or lacquered.
A manzanita centerpiece can have many uses for many occasions. They can blend well with flower arrangements and many other decorative combinations. They can be re-used for different occasions and seasons. You can change the decorations to match the seasons and holidays. Easter decorations can be hung on them just as well as they can be used for Christmas decorations or a wedding.
Manzanita branches grow in so many diverse shapes and sizes. You can find manzanita trees with thick woody branches that can be a sturdy structure that can hold a lot of weight. You can also find a manzanita tree with very fine delicate and intricate branches. Since manzanita is so stiff and strong, even the fine branches are relatively strong.
In some areas manzanita is protected and harvesting live branches is outlawed. But in other areas it grows abundantly and is considered a pest plant. In some forests thick overcrowded manzanita groves compete with other trees and create a fire hazard. In these cases foresters thin the trees to create healthier forests. When buying manzanita products from these sources you are actually helping to preserve and create healthy forests.