Arctostaphylos x ‘Pacific Mist’, Pacific Mist Manzanita

If you garden inland, this species could be a good choice for a handsome groundcover. It is more drought tolerant than the popular bearberries, which need the cooling coastal conditions. A broadly spreading shrub, fast growing for a manzanita, eventually forming a good dense groundcover 2 to 2 1/2 ft. tall by 10 ft. wide. Has handsome gray-green leaves with deep reddish-brown bark. Small clusters of white urn-shaped flowers in late winter are pretty, but it is not a heavy bloomer. This fine introduction from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is proving to be dependable and disease resistant. Plant in sun or light shade. In cool summer areas it may need no additional summer water once established. In hotter inland sites, occasional deep summer waterings is best. It is believed to be a cross involving the rare Bonny Doon manzanita.