Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Radiant manzanita is found in the northern parts of the US, growing amidst the conifers and oaks on the west coast from northern California up to Alaska. It makes an excellent matting ground cover, growing only up to 8 inches high and spreading up to 6 feet. Radiant manzanita can spill over a wall, down a slope, or replace a lawn. It has small pink flowers in early winter followed by bright red berries that make a great wildlife offering for native birds. Full sun along the coast, but some shade inland in hot areas would be appreciated by this fresh looking, evergreen groundcover. Requires more water inland, but grows faster when provided that extra moisture. Radiant manzanita will grow in most soils including clay and sand as long as there is good drainage and some moisture, adapting to traditional garden conditions quite well. This showy evergreen groundcover manzanita is an excellent choice to replace a lawn, line a walkway, or cover a tree studded slope. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 12 in Tall
6 - 10 ft Wide

Form

Prostrate

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

White, Pink

Flowering season

Winter, Spring

Special uses

Groundcover, Deer resistant

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Low, Moderate

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

15

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soils. Tolerates serpentine soil..
Soil PH: 4.0 - 7.0

Maintenance

Prune as needed to contain spread

Sunset Zones

1*, 4, 5, 6*, 7*, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Low growing coastal plants from central and northern California including California Seapink (Armeria maritima var. californica), Beach Sage (Artemisia pycnocephala), Ceanothus species, Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus), Seaside Buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), Seaside Woolly Sunflower (Eriophyllum staechadifolium), Hairy Gumweed (Grindelia hirsutula), Lupinus species, and Dune goldenrod (Solidago spathulata)

Hummingbirds
Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies