A longtime favorite from on top of Oregon Mountain that we’ve been trialing for years and are finally introducing it. We’re guessing this is a hybrid involving Arctostaphylos nevadensis and something else that is very nice and blue. It grows as a medium sized blue mound that is very dense in the harsher conditions of the Siskiyous but grows as a bit looser so far in cultivation.
A great selection of a unique and rare manzanita species endemic to Santa Cruz Island, White Cloud produces large clusters of pure white flowers and is covered in white hairs all along its stems. Easily the hairiest manzanita we’ve ever seen and it makes for a great texture in the dry garden. Provide very good drainage and airflow for this one.
Another great selection of Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Myrtle Wolf has great bluish green foliage as well as deep pink flowers that emerge in late winter. A favorite of Anna’s hummingbird, producing loads of flowers at a time of year when not much else is in flower.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An excellent species native to the sandy chaparral and oak woodland surrounding Monterey Bay just north of Carmel, this grey leaf form of sandmat manzanita was widely distributed after being planted at the North Willamette Research Station’s manzanita trial and has proven adaptable to garden conditions even outside of sandy soils. Likely tolerant of a bit of summer water since it grows so near the coast, but we typically give it zero irrigation after establishment here in Portland.
A widely distributed species from central to southern California, Arctostaphylos glauca is one of our favorites for its stunning whitish blue leaves and pink stems and petioles. Fairly adaptable and easy to grow if given full sun, excellent drainage and minimal summer water after the first couple years. This collection from near the top of Pozo Summit should be easily hardy to 0° F as it gets quite cold up there.
