Dr. Hurd Manzanita is a favorite old manzanita selection that’s proven itself a reliable and easy to grow variety for our climate. One of the most architectural manzanitas, the twisting mahogany stems make an incredible focal point in the garden.
If you’re looking for that classic manzanita look with the sexy peeling purple bark and contorted muscular trunks then Louis Edmunds is the Manzanita for you!
A handsome little scrub oak from the California coast range that grows amongst manzanitas in a low shrubby form. These are tough little shrubs that can withstand a range of soil conditions so long as they’re well draining and in full sun. Leaves are evergreen and look good throughout the year and the acorns support a range of wildlife.
A unique and rare Siskiyou endemic, Jack’s Juniper grows only on ultramafic rocks in higher elevations of the Siskiyou Mountains, and also reportedly in a few places in the Cascades. It creates a beautiful slithering silvery ground cover that is absolutely breathtaking when covered in mountain mist and complements the manzanitas of the chapparal “overstory” perfectly. This is a very slow grower and should be given very sharp drainage, but has so far been amenable to nursery potting media, though a good bit of iron and magnesium once it’s planted in the ground should help it adapt to life outside of the mountains.
Schott’s Agave is a unique member of the Agave genus in the subgenus Littaea, classified as such for its lack of spines along its leaves. Though it still can give you a stab with the spine at the end of its leaf tips, giving it another common name of “shin dagger”. Schott’s Agave looks almost more like a yucca with its thin leaves and filaments curling off the leaves. Very drought tolerant and sculptural!
