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Which manzanitas will grow at the coast?

>Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 23:20:21 -0800
>Sender: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>From: Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu (Barry Garcia)
>To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Subject: Re: Which manzanitas will grow at the coast?
>
>                 <snip>                                            Only
> A. Hookeri will grow in Sunset zone 24 but it is not tree like (
> unfortunately for the original poster) but there is a form that gets to
> tree like size, its called Toro Manzanita . Unfortunately Sunset doesnt
> say the species! This one gets to about 8-12 feet high with large apple
> green leaves ( as best i can describe)and has the deep red peeling
> bark. Anyone know what species the toro manzanita is?

Barry -

Apparently, Arctostaphylos montereyensis is the Toro Manzanita, and
the last remaining natural population of these plants is found at
the Ford Ord Natural Reserve just north of Monterey (your area, am I
correct?).

I'm not sure what version of Sunset you were checking to determine
that only A. hookeri is suitable for Sunset's Zone 24 - my older
version mentions several, but perhaps they 'repealed' these in more
recent versions based upon better information.  Those mentioned in
my book are:

A. edmundsii - Little Sur Manzanita : low growing coastal species,
good for hillsides, light green to grey green leaves, pink flowers,
several selectes cultivars available.

A. 'Emerald Carpet' : dense carpeter, good green color, light
flowering.

A. franciscana : a native to San Francisco and nearly extinct, low
growing.

A. hookeri - Monterey Manzanita : medium (A. h. 'Wayside') to low
(A. h. 'Monterey Carpet'), bright green leaves, white to pink
flowers, red fruit, dark brown/red bark, various cultivars available.

A. manzanita - Common Manzanita : taller, tree-like shrub (to 20ft),
native to the inner coast ranges (a little away from the coast), very
adaptable, bright to dull green leaves, white to pink flowers, good
purplish red bark, fruit white turning red.


A. media : possibly a natural hybrid between A. uva-ursi & columbiana,
like a large and faster growing A. uva-ursi (Bearberry, Kinnikinnick).

A. nummularia - Fort Bragg Manzanita : low, attractive, but considered
difficult outside of native area (coast, acid soil, excellent drainage).

A. 'Sunset' : a natural hybrid between A. hookeri & pajaroensis, 4-5ft
tall, mounding, new foliage coppery-red, turning bright green, pinkish
flowers.

    *           *           *           *           *           *

For those impressed with the knowledge of California members, in the
area of this genera - I am pleased to see such general understanding
of these plants among local horticulturists.  While there are many
native plant groups in our state, they tend to stay too separate from
the 'mainstream' of horticulture.  And while these shrubs aboound in
most of our coastal and mountain areas, they are often poorly
understood or recognized by the casual observer.  With the tremendous
influx of new residents to our area, there is still a great deal of
education needed to help people understand the native ecology.


For the original poster, looking for manzanita species for San Diego:

Your local native plant group would have many other suggestions,
and possibly some information about plant sales/nurseries, etc.
A local landscape designer well versed in native plants might also
be a worth-while consult.  Whenever planting adjacent to wild
areas, be sure and avoid any foreign species which might 'escape'
into the natural environment, and any native species which might be
inappropriate to introduce into your area.  The aim is to create
a pleasing extension of the natural landscape, perhaps providing
food and shelter for wildlife, but not impacting resident species
in any negative manner.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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