Arctostaphylos densiflora
Common name:
Sonoma Manzanita
Vinehill Manzanita
Pronunciation:
ark-tow-STAF-i-los den-si-FLOR-a
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Evergreen shrub, prostrate, to 2 ft (0.6 m) tall, slender branches, root when in contact with the soil, bark red-black, smooth. Leaves alternate, simple, 1-3 cm long, elliptic, glossy green. Flowers small, pendulous, white to pinkish, in short clusters, produced in spring. Fruit, like many Manzanita resembles a tiny apple, about 6 mm, somewhat spherical, brick red, berry-like drupe, matures in the summer, persists into winter.
- Sun to light shade, requires acid soils, good drainage; drought tolerant.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 7 Native to Sonoma County, California, considered endangered in its native habitat.
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This species has been widely used in developing manzanita cultivars and hybrids for garden use. A few of the cultivars listed as Arctostaphylos densiflora include:
- 'Emerald Carpet' - mound-forming, 25-35 cm high, dense
- 'Harmony' - to 1 m tall, 2 m wide
- 'Howard McMinn' - to 1.5-2 m tall, dense, dry shade to full sun
- 'Sentinel' - to 2.5 m tall and 2. m wide, gray-green color, tolerate heavy, rich soils but best in sandy loam or sand.
- Federal Way, WA: Rhododendron Species Garden
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit
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branch
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flowers and leaves
