A very cool cross of two lovely low growing manzanitas, the commonly seen bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and the very rare San Bruno Mountain manzanita, Arctostaphylos imbricata. This one is easy to grow, tolerating some summer water but still prefers a well draining soil. Cool geometric pattern to the foliage, and it makes an excellent thick mounding ground cover.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi x imbricata
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self fruitful
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5° F.
Size at Maturity: 2 ft in height and 6′ or so in width
Bloom Time: Late winter
Pests & Diseases: No pests or diseases that we’ve seen on our plants here in Portland
USDA Zone: 7b

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Funky little hybrid manzanita groundcover from the Kalmiopsis Wilderness not far from Babyfoot Creek that we were immediately smitten by. Seems to be an easy one in cultivation so long as you provide well draining soil and minimal summer water after establishment. Super cute round leaves that have a nice blue hue to them. Sometimes you find bigfoot and sometimes you find babyfoot…

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos hybrid (nevadensis x viscida?)
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5 F.
Size at Maturity: ~2′ x 6′, but not sure long term how large it will grow
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7b

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A selection of one of our favorite species of manzanita that we selected for its very tight compact growth and excellent texture. The foliage texture on this one looks somewhat like Arctostaphylos auriculata or a compact Hebe when viewed from above with a psychedelic geometry thing going on. New growth is bright red and contrasts beautifully with the light blue foliage. Easy to grow so far and seemingly quite garden tolerant, but give it great drainage as they do grow on sand.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos pajaroensis ‘Shooting Star’
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5 F.
Size at Maturity: 5′ x 5′, but not sure long term how large it will grow
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7b

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Very cool form of Arctostaphylos manzanita! We picked this one up from the wonderful California Flora Nursery on a roadtrip years ago and it has been lighting up the driveway garden at the nursery ever since. Sometimes yellow tipped plants look like they just need a bit of fertilizer, but this one really shines and looks intentional about its yellowy growth tips. Grows at a quick pace but doesn’t get leggy with exuberant growth like some Arcto manzanitas can.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos manzanita ‘Bates Yellow’
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5 F.
Size at Maturity: 6′ x 4 ‘ so far after 5 years in ground
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring, but sometimes starting in the fall
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7b

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One of the best of an already stunning and favorite species of manzanita (Arctostaphylos parajoensis), we first got this plant from Ian Barclay at Desert Northwest Nursery. It likely goes under another name, possibly Brett’s Beauty, but Ian couldn’t remember and so called it Awesome Red for very obvious reasons. It has some of the most vivid red growth of any manzanita, or any plant for that matter, that we’ve ever seen. It contrasts very nicely with the unique dark green and slightly glaucous blue leaf. Very easy to grow if given full sun and well draining soil.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos pajaroensis ‘Awesome Red’
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5 F.
Size at Maturity: 4’x6′ so far after 5 years in ground
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7b

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Diablo’s Blush is an excellent and rare manzanita that grows only on Mt. Diablo to the east of the Bay Area. New growth emerges a bright pink that contrasts beautifully with the grey foliage and the auriculate foliage provides an amazing texture, especially when viewed from above. Very drought tolerant once established and needing no supplemental watering after its first year or two in the ground.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos auriculata
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self fruitful
Hardiness: Hardy to about 0-5° F.
Size at Maturity: 5-6 ft in height and width, smaller with pruning.
Bloom Time: Late winter
Pests & Diseases: No pests or diseases that we’ve seen on our plants here in Portland
USDA Zone: 7b

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The most commonly seen manzanita in landscapes, Kinnikinnick is also the most widespread manzanita species on the planet. While almost every Arctostaphylos species is native to the West Coast of North America, with a few species spread into the more interior Southwest, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is the only one that grows not just along the West Coast but also far into Canada, the Northeastern United States as well as into Asia and Europe. It typically grows at high elevations on rocky outcrops, but in cultivation it is amenable to many different situations. This selection, ‘Massachusetts’, is not the best for hot dry areas, and will perform best with summer water. Extremely cold hardy and even a bit shade tolerant.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full to part sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about -40 F.
Size at Maturity: 12″ high by 6′ wide
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 3

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A naturally occuring hybrid of Arctostaphylos viscida and A. canescens, this one found outisde of Grants Pass at a site where the Whiteleaf Manzanitas grow into trees. This plant survived in a pot for many years before finally being transplanted to a probably-too-wet part of the nursery garden where it has thrived, so we finally decided to clone it. Named for its intensely peachy new growth, giant round fuzzy leaves, and also for our real peach friend Lauren who is always able to hold the balance between softness and strength with ferocity and beauty, just like this manzanita. Old leaves can get a bit spotty in winter but quickly grows out of it in spring.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos viscida x canescens ‘Real Peach’
Site and Soil: Well draining unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 0 F.
Size at Maturity: 6’x4′ so far after 5 years in ground
Bloom Time: Late winter into spring
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7, possibly lower as it was collected at ~1500 ft.

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Sunset Manzanita is a fantastic cross between Arctostaphylos hookeri and Arctostaphylos pajaroensis. This hybrid manzanita drapes itself across a six foot wide space and grows to about three to four feet in height. Lovely evergreen foliage contrasts beautifully with the dark red bark. Sunset Manzanita’s new growth showcases the pajaroensis in its genes and is colored bright bronze and red. In late winter all of these colors are accented by bright white flowers. Perfect for smaller gardens, very drought tolerant, and shapeable for those seeking uniformity in their landscaping.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos hookeri x A. pajaroensis ‘Sunset’ 
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self fruitful
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5° F.
Size at Maturity:10 ft in height and width, smaller with pruning.
Bloom Time: Late winter
Pests & Diseases: No pests or diseases that we’ve seen on our plants here in Portland
USDA Zone: 7b

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A big, bold, large growing manzanita for those who want a more tree-like manzanita to really show off that gorgeous bark and take a prominent place in the garden. St. Helena is very garden tolerant manzanita, though it’s still advised to not give it any summer water after the first year or two getting it established. Handsome grey, green leaves and pure white flowers in late winter. This is a great focal point or large shrub/tree to build a garden around.

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos manzanita ‘St. Helena’ 
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self fruitful
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5° F.
Size at Maturity:10 ft in height and width, smaller with pruning.
Bloom Time: Late winter
Pests & Diseases: No pests or diseases that we’ve seen on our plants here in Portland
USDA Zone: 7b

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