Arctostaphylos 'Sonia Q' is a prostate shrub manzanita that was discovered by Richard S. Davis and his wife Sonia Q. Davis in their private residence in Arrowbear, CA in 2014. The plant grows naturally in a Yellow Pine Forest habitat at 6,200ft elevation, USDA 6-7 climate zone. A. 'Sonia Q' has also been found to grow well in cultivation at the California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA in both sandy, alluvial soil as well as clay. 

A. 'Sonia Q' is evergreen, and flowers with white to pink flowers in winter and spring with a slow-medium growth rate. This plant grows about 5-6ft wide and 2ft tall. 

It likes full sun, with a wide variety of soil drainage. Can tolerate down to 10 degrees, and can handle extensive snow exposure. Easy to care for in garden settings. Named in honor of Sonia Q. Davis who passed in 2015.

Beautiful natural hybrid manzanita; cross between Arctostaphylos hookeri x Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, found on sandy hills in Monterey County. New leaves are yellow-green, often with copper-colored margins, maturing to deep green. Attractive dark red bark. White to pink bell shaped flowers. One of the most garden tolerant manzanitas. Seems to grow well in cool coastal environments, but is often short-lived in hot inland areas, especially in full sun, regardless of irrigation strategies. Size varies; it has been listed as 2-3'Tx3-4'W, and as large as 5-8'Tx5-8'W, depending on the source. Best to plan for the larger size when planting.

Arctostaphylos bakeri is a species of manzanita known by the common name Baker's manzanita. It is endemic to Sonoma County, California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodlands of the North Coast Ranges. It is sometimes a member of the serpentine soils flora. This is a shrub growing one to three meters in height. Its smaller twigs are bristly and hairy or hairy to woolly. The dark green leaves are generally oval in shape and up to 3 centimeters long. They may be hairy, rough or fuzzy in texture, and dull or shiny in appearance. The plentiful flower clusters hold crowded clusters of urn-shaped manzanita flowers. The fruit is a hairless drupe up to a centimeter wide. Arctostaphylos bakeri does best in nutrient-poor clay or loam soils that retain more water. While it can usually tolerate occasional summer water, it is best to stop all summer water after the first year. Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds' is the standard form of this manzanita available at native plant nurseries.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos bakeri ssp. bakerii. Tolerates a wide variety of soils, but is fairly intolerant of summer water or added fertilizer. Louis Edmunds manzanita brings the form and characteristics of a large manzanita tree in a compact form much more suited to smaller gardens and landscapes. This shrub grows to a height and spread of 6 to 8 foot, with an upright form and evergreen foliage. Attractive purple bark provides year-round beauty, supplemented by pink flowers in the spring. This manzanita has gray-green foliage that contrasts beautifully with the deep purple bark. This adaptable specimen plant is known to be garden tolerant, able to grow in heavy clay soils or serpentinite, and also tolerant of loam or even decomposed granite. Adorned with pink flowers in spring, it's a delight to the hummingbirds and a fabulous addition to any landscape.

Horticultural selection A. bakeri: origin = north coast, selected by Louis Edmunds intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1962. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected from sonoma County by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Arctostaphylos catalinae, the Santa Catalina Island manzanita, is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family. It is endemic to California, where it grows wild only in the Channel Islands, specifically, Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. This is a tall, bristly manzanita with a well defined trunk that is adapted to the stiff, saline breezes of the island bluffs in its habitat. It does not develop a basal burl and so does not sprout from the base after a fire. However, like other Manzanitas, the seeds germinate readily after fire. It is an attractive Manzanita that deserves to be used more often in coastal gardens.

Arctostaphylos cruzensis is a species of Heath (Ericaceae) known by the common names La Cruz manzanita and Arroyo de la Cruz manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California, where it grows in the sand of the coastline in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. It is considered rare due to its limited distribution. This region experiences summer fog that is an important part of its water budget. This is a very petite manzanita which grows flat on the ground or shaped into a low mound. The stem is covered in red shreddy bark. The small, pointed oval leaves are bright green and sometimes slightly toothed or with a fringe of hairs along the reddish edges. The flowers are very pale pink and urn-shaped with tapered throats. The fruits are hairy drupes up to a centimeter in diameter and containing angular seeds.

Vine hill manzanita (Arctostaphylos densiflora) is a very rare species of manzanita, endemic to Sonoma County, where it is known from only one extant population of 20 to 30 individuals. These last wild members of the species are on land near Sebastopol that is owned and protected by the California Native Plant Society. This is a small evergreen shrub that grows fast to about 3 feet or less, although cultivars may get taller.  It is ideal for limited spaces. 

Vine hill manzanita forms low, spreading clumps, as stems may root where they are in constant contact with soil. The foliage is a beautiful green, the bark smooth and red, and is a profuse bloomer with Clusters of pink flowers in winter stand out at the end of the stems and the foliage frames each cluster. 

Vine hill manzanita tolerates almost any soil type. It prefers sun in coastal sites; sun or part shade in inland sites and takes low to very low water. 

The flowers attract hummingbirds. Other birds are attracted to the fruit and seeds, and the local habitat is mostly chaparral on sandy shale soils. Vine hill manzanita is the origin of several popular cultivars including 'Sentinel' and 'Howard McMinn.'

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos densiflora. Harmony manzanita (A. densiflora 'Harmony') is an evergreen shrub suitable for a mounding groundcover or a low hedge. Harmony has astonishingly beautiful smooth red bark, a feature accentuated by the plant's larger-than-typical, softly pointed green leaves. It grows densely 2- 3' high with a 6'-8' spread, and takes shearing well. In spring, Harmony is illuminated with a multitude of tiny pink lanterns; the masses of urn-shaped flowers draw in hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Harmony manzanita tolerates many types of soil, including clay, sand, loam, and gravel. This easy to grow low shrub is able to withstand wet winter conditions including flooding while preferring dry summer conditions. Very cold tolerant. Drought and heat tolerant, it is a selection from the dry climate of sonoma county. On the coast, Harmony manzanita takes full sun, and inland would appreciate some afternoon shade to look its best. Very low water needs once established. A dependable variety of manzanita, tolerant of many garden conditions. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Sonoma County--Selected for use in the garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos densiflora in the foothills of the north coast mountains. Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Sentinel' is a medium manzanita that flowers heavily. It is related to Arctostaphylos Howard McMinn and offers much of the same garden tolerance as McMinn. Sentinel has grayer foliage and is taller with a more upright habit than Howard McMinn. Height at maturity six to eight feet with a spread of five feet. Sentinel will tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions including heavy, rich soils but is much happier in sandy loam or sand and is more drought tolerant than the other Arctostaphylos densiflora cultivars. 'Sentinel' is one of the best performers in beach sand, while also being known as very clay tolerant. Like most other manzanitas it does not tolerate salt spray. 'Sentinel' has red bark and seems to be one of the faster growing manzanitas growing to full size in a couple of years.

Horticultural selection A. densiflora: origin = north coast foothills; intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1962 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden; introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

A species of manzanita known by the common name Little Sur manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where it grows on the coastal bluffs of Monterey County. This is a petite, low-lying manzanita which forms mounds and patchy mats in sandy soil. The leathery leaves are small and rounded to oval, dark green and shiny when mature and red-edged when new. The flower clusters are dense with flowers, which are small, urn-shaped to rounded, and waxy white to very pale pink. The fruit is a shiny, reddish-brown drupe between one half and one centimeter wide.

Little Sur Manzanita prefers sun with a little afternoon shade. It likes sandy soils and beach sand, and will tolerate clay and adobe. It is great for a coastal garden, but doesn't do well with direct salt spray. There are a number of available cultivars including 'Carmel Sur', 'Danville', and 'Indian Hill'.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos edmundsii. Arctstaphylos edmunsii 'Bert Johnson' originates from the Tilden Botanic Garden, and is a special selection from A. edmunsii manzanitas growing in the county of Monterey, California. A. Bert Johnson is a low growing manzanita that forms a nearly perfect mat, standing less than 1 foot high but spreading 6 feet. This manzanita makes an excellent ground cover and is equally attractive spilling over walls or boulders. Bert Johnson's cascading habit allows it to thrive on hillsides; its low branches root as they spread, helping to keep the soil in place and erosion under control. Bert Johnson manzanita is also known by the name Bronze Mat manzanita, owing to the fact that the new growth on this plant is tinged a delicate bronze color. The densely clustered leaves are small on this manzanita, and a dark gray-green color, giving the plant a sophisticated appearance reminiscent of boxwood. In late winter and spring, A. Bert Johnson is covered in pink-tinged white flowers, and is beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds. A. Bert Johnson would like full sun in coastal conditions, but might benefit from a little afternoon shade in very hot inland areas. This plant prefers well-drained soil, enjoying occasional summer watering to look its best but ultimately remaining staunchly drought tolerant. A great choice for a native groundcover. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Introduced by Tilden Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos edmundsii. Carmel sur manzanita is a low growing evergreen shrub, with light green leaves. Plant in part shade inland to full sun (with a little extra water) near coast. Carmel sur likes good drainage but will also survive clay. It is very garden and water tolerant as long as the water doesn't stand on it. Carmel sur grows fairly rapidly for a manzanita and the new growth is bronze. This arctostaphylos is greatly appreciated as a fast way to cover large slopes where it will stabilize soil and quickly smother the weeds.

Horticultural selection A. edmundsii: origin = central coast, Monterey Co.; intro saratoga Horticultural Foundation 1972 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for use in the garden. Introduced by saratoga Horticultural Foundation.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Franciscan Manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana) is a rare native shrub. It is presumed to be native only to the immediate vicinity of San Francisco Bay and was presumed extinct for many years. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of A. hookeri and some sources still refer to it that way.

Eastwood Manzanita is one of the many Manzanitas native to California. This Manzanita can be found along coastal slopes that stretch from Baja California all the way up through Oregon.

It is an evergreen shrub with edible fruit and white and pink flowers. It blooms during the spring and winter, attracting hummingbirds and other local pollinators. It can be bristly and sometimes hairy to the touch, it's also important to be mindful that it can secrete sticky oils.

It is ideal to plant Eastwood Manzanita in the spring so that it has ample time to establish before drier summer months. It should be watered weekly, up to a year after planting. Once established, it should be watered up to once a month. It likes sun or part shade.

Laguna Mountain Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsi) is a native shrub that grows in Southern California, primarily in the Peninsular Range region. It tends to grow in rocky outcrops, slopes and ridges, primarily at elevations over 3000 ft. It tends to be a spreader and sprawler but can be kept neat by pruning. Its gray-green foliage contrasts nicely with red stems and white/pink flowers.

Del Mar or Costa Baja Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia) is a rare native shrub that grows in Southern California, primarily in the South Coast region. Depending on the time of year, leaves can be pinkish, slivery, blue green or dark green. It tends to grow in rocky outcrops, slopes and ridges, at elevations from 0-700 feet. It can grow to 8 feet, but is usually under 4 feet with a loose mounding form.

Del Mar Manzanita is beautiful, relatively easy to grow and among the fastest growing of the manzanitas. It seems to do best if planted in the spring, when it can grow quickly and establish itself before the dry summer months. It handles weekly water for the first year after planting, after which it's best to naturalize. Plant on slopes or well draining flats. It will look green and vibrant year round if it can stretch its roots out to a nearby damper spot or irrigated area. It likes sun or part shade.

Bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) is a large evergreen shrub to small tree and is recognized as California's official state shrub. The leaves are large and light gray-green. In spring hanging bunches of urn-shaped white flowers cover the stems. Insects and hummingbirds love the flowers, and the fruit attracts all sorts of wildlife. The edible fruit, the largest of any manzanita, is round or egg-shaped and light red. This is a long-lived manzanita, moderate to slow growing. It can reach 100 years of age or more, and does not begin to fruit until it is around 20 years old.  It grows to 3 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 20 feet wide, with interesting twisting branches and smooth red bark that readily peels. 

It is best to plant bigberry manzanita on rocky slopes, avoiding south-facing slopes. It will usually do better if planted near large rocks, or at least with rocks placed around it. It prefers well-draining, acidic soil. It thrives in sun or part-shade.  After the first year, direct summer water will often kill this plant.

Arctostaphylos hookeri is a species of manzanita known by the common name Hooker's manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where its native range extends from the coastal San Francisco Bay Area to the Central Coast. This is a low shrub which is variable in appearance and has several subspecies. These are generally mat-forming plants or low bushes with small green leaves, dense flower clusters of white to pink flowers, and shiny egg-shaped or round red drupes. It does not form a burl and can be killed by fire.

Hooker's Manzanita comes in a number of subspecies and cultivars. Two low growing, mounding forms include ssp. hearstiorum and Monterey Carpet (about 1 foot tall and 6 feet wide). Upright forms can reach 6 feet in height. In general, this species prefers full sun within a few miles of the coast, and part shade when more inland. This plant will tolerate some summer water (1-2x per month). It prefers dry, well drained, acidic soil and is slow growing. It is a great candidate for a rock garden or coastal bluff garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos hookeri. This gorgeous evergreen manzanita is a low growing shrub with bright green leaves. It has flowers that range from a pale pink to white. It doesn't like temperature extremes but does great in inland areas in partial shade. During the warmer summer months some water is needed but it is fairly drought tolerant. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden from species found in Northern and central Central Coast, western san Francisco Bay Area.

Arctostaphylos insularis is a species of manzanita known by the common name island manzanita. It is endemic to Santa Cruz Island, one of the Channel Islands of California. It grows in chaparral and woodland. This is a large, spreading shrub ordinarily reaching over two meters tall and known to exceed five meters in height. It has waxy, reddish bark and the smaller twigs sometimes have bristly hairy hairs. The leaves are shiny green and smooth, generally oval in shape and slightly convex, and up to about 4.5 centimeters long. The shrub blooms in many dense clustered flower clusters of urn-shaped flowers. The fruit is an orange-brown drupe up to 1.5 centimeters wide. Its long bloom time makes it a good choice for the coastal southern California garden where it will get some moisture from fog drip.

Common manzanita is a beautiful shrub: its red branching structure, delicate white lantern-shaped flowers, blush-colored berries, and bright foliage provide year-round interest. Use these gorgeous plants as specimen trees and to provide structure. Their graceful, twisting branches add an unbeatable sculptural effect. With their winter blooms and summer berries, they are a pollinator and wildlife all-star, supporting local birds and insects.

Common Manzanita is easy to grow in a variety of soils. It is low moisture but can tolerate some summer water. Outside of cultivation, it is commonly found in the northern part of the state.

There are many different species, hybrids, and varieties of Manzanitas native to California. They vary in size, flower color, and more, making them an excellent option for most gardens.

Dr. Hurd manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd') is known for its beautiful dark reddish-brown bark that forms an attractive contrast with its glossy, light green foliage. It is a relatively fast growing shrub that can be pruned in late summer to achieve the desired height or spread and may become a small tree. The white flowers bloom in February to April followed by clusters of berries in fall, making it a great year-round pollinator plant. Dr. Hurd Manzanita is an evergreen, multi-branched, treelike natural-hybrid shrub with glossy, light green foliage. This manzanita can handle some summer water and a richer soil but will also grow well in clay soil, and tolerates sandy soil.

Its brown-red bark and lovely multi-branched form make this distinctive taller manzanita a prized specimen plant and focal point of the landscape in many gardens. Along the coast, Dr. Hurd manzanita prefers sun, and if planted inland, it thrives in part shade. Perfectly drought-adapted in most gardens, Dr. Hurd is one of the faster manzanitas and is a reliable shrub.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Presidio Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. ravenii) is a rare native shrub whose only documented location in the wild is in Presidio Park, San Francisco. It is listed by State and federal agencies as an Endangered Species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that only one individual of this subspecies remains in the wild and no wild seedlings of this plant have been observed. However, it has been propagated from seeds and cuttings for conservation purposes, and it is sometimes available for garden use. It was formerly classified as Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. revenii and some sources may still refer to it by that name.

Arctostaphylos myrtifolia is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common name Ione Manzanita. It is a rare species, endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of California where it grows in the chaparral and woodland on a distinctive acidic soil series in western Amador and Calaveras Counties. This is a red-barked, bristly shrub reaching just over a meter in maximum height. The small bright green leaves are coated in tiny hairy hairs and are shiny but rough in texture. They are less than 2 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a raceme of urn-shaped manzanita flowers on bright red branches. The fruit is a cylindrical drupe only a few millimeters long. A major threat to this rare endemic plant is a pair of fungal diseases. A branch canker caused by species of Fusicoccum, including F. aesculi, causes some mortality, and root and crown rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi has destroyed entire stands of the manzanita and prevented its regrowth in patches of infested soil.

Arctostaphylos nummularia is a species of manzanita known by the common name glossyleaf manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the forests of the coastal and inland ranges north of the San Francisco Bay. This is a red-barked shrub reaching a maximum height up to five meters. The smaller twigs are covered lightly in white hairy bristles. The leaves are oval-shaped to nearly round, one to two centimeters long and wide. The edges are very finely toothed to nearly smooth, lined with tiny bristles, and sometimes curled under. The upper surface of the leaf is darker green and shinier than the underside. The flower cluster holds a cluster of hanging flowers, which are spherical and white to pink-tinged. The fruit is a cylindrical drupe less than half a centimeter long containing a few seeds.

There are two subspecies; ssp. mendocinoensis (Pygmy Manzanita) was formerly considered a separate species. It is now considered a subspecies of nummularia but rare due to its extremely restricted range, a tiny population on the coast between Ft. Bragg and Albion. As a garden plant it may be difficult unless you can replicate conditions from its native area.

Otay Manzanita (Arctostaphylos otayensis) is a beautiful rare native shrub that grows in San Diego county in the the Otay Mountains of San Diego County, possibly extending into northern Baja. It is rare in the northern part of the Peninsular Range. Leaves are striking - light pink when new, and gray- green when mature. Flowers are white and bloom early and long. It tends to grow in stony slopes and volcanic rock outcrops, at elevations from 1000-4000 feet.

Pacific Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pacifica) is a very rare native shrub that is known from only a single location in the San Bruno Mountains. It has also been subject to some taxonomic uncertainty. It was previously considered a hybrid but is now considered a distinct species. Despite its rarity in the wild, it has been available in the horticultural trade for a number of years. It is a ground-cover manzanita that is attractive and garden tolerant. In its native location it enjoys a climate that is very moderate, with 20-40 inches of winter rainfall annually and mild, foggy summers. It is best used along the central coast.

La Panza Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pilosula) is a rare native shrub in the Ericaceae (Heath) family that grows in the Central Coast region, primarily in San Luis Obispo County. It tends to grow in sandstone outcrops, at elevations from sea level to 1,300 feet. As with other species from this region, La Panza Manzanita is exposed to a very mild climate with some summer moisture provided by fog drip.

Arctostaphylos pumila is a species of manzanita known by the common name Sandmat Manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where it grows on the coastline near Monterey. This is a petite, low-lying manzanita which forms flat bushes and patchy, creeping mats in sandy soil. The branch tips will take root as it spreads. The bark is reddish and tends not to shred. The leaves are small and mainly oval-shaped, dark green on the upper surface and grayish and fuzzy beneath. The flowers appear in sparse flower clusters and are white to very pale pink. The fruit is a round brownish drupe about half a centimeter wide. In the wild this plant derives a lot of moisture from fog but does not like salt spray directly on it.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Arctostaphylos rainbowensis is a rare species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common name Rainbow manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from northern San Diego and southern Riverside Counties. A specimen was first collected in 1973 and considered to be part of a disjunct population of Arctostaphylos peninsularis, or alternately a hybrid between A. glauca and Arctostaphylos glandulosa. Following phenetic analyses both possibilities were discarded and the plant was described as a new species in 1994. It was named for the community of Rainbow, California, near where it is most common in the chaparral of the lower elevation coastal mountains and the only manzanita species throughout most of its range.

This is an erect shrub reaching a bushlike one meter to a treelike four meters in height. It produces a burl at its base and is coated in reddish brown, smooth bark. The oval leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and 3.5 wide and are hairless and somewhat waxy in texture. The flower cluster is a hanging cluster of white urn-shaped flowers each about 6 to 8 millimeters long. The fruit is about a centimeter wide and ripens to a dark purple-brown.

Arctostaphylos refugioensis is a species in the Heath family (Ericaceae) known by the common name Refugio manzanita. It is endemic to Santa Barbara County, California, where it can be found along the immediate coastline, including the vicinity of Refugio State Beach, and into the Santa Ynez Mountains. It is a plant of the coastal chaparral on sandstone soils. This is a shrub reaching at least two meters tall and known to exceed four meters in maximum height. Its branches are covered in long, gland-tipped bristles and a dense foliage of oblong greenish to deep red leaves. Each leaf is dull, waxy, and often bristly in texture, smooth or toothed along the edges, and up to 4.5 centimeters long. The shrub flowers in winter in clusters of cone-shaped or urn-shaped flowers each up to a centimeter long. The fruit is a spherical to oval red drupe with a pointed end, measuring at least a centimeter long. Despite being from a mild climate area, it seems to do well in cultivation in hotter and colder inland areas.

Arctostaphylos rudis is a rare species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common names Sand Mesa Manzanita and Shagbark Manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the southern Central Coast. It is most abundant at Burton Mesa in the hills north of Lompoc, and there are a few occurrences remaining near Nipomo. It grows in chaparral and coastal sage scrub on sandy soils. This is an erect shrub growing from a burl to heights between one and two meters. Its stem and branches are covered in shredding gray and reddish bark, with its smaller branches coated in woolly fibers. The leaves are oval in shape and smooth along the edges with few hairs, green in color and shiny. They are 1 to 3 centimeters long. It flowers in late fall and winter with pink urn-shaped manzanita flowers. The fruits are hairless red drupes about a centimeter wide or slightly larger. Despite its rarity in the wild, it is easy to grow and accepting of garden conditions. It is probably best used near the coast.

Arctostaphylos stanfordiana is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common name Stanford's manzanita. It is endemic to California, in the outer North Coast Ranges north of the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a bushy shrub growing one half meter to two meters in height. Leaves are oblong to widely lance-shaped, shiny green, and up to 5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of urn-shaped manzanita flowers which are pink, with some so pale that they are nearly white. The fruit is an oblong drupe about 7 millimeters wide. In the garden this Manzanita is very versatile, being tolerant of a variety of soils (including serpentine) and climates. It has especially attractive bark. Baker's Manzanita was formerly considered a subspecies of stanfordiana, and some sources may still refer to it that way; however, Arctostaphylos bakeri is now considered a separate species. Stanfordiana still has 2 recognized subspecies, decumbens and raichei, both of which are rare in the wild.

Kinnikinnick is a popular low-growing manzanita that is often used as a groundcover and lawn replacement plant. It is a spreading evergreen shrub that features small, pinkish-white flowers and red berries. Both the flowers and fruit are attractive to birds and insects.

Kinnikinnick and its cultivars grow best in cooler mountainous or coastal regions of California. When planted in hot, dry inland areas, it requires afternoon shade and supplemental water. Kinnikinnick likes loamy, acidic soil.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. One of the faster growing manzanitas, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Green supreme' is truly superior when it comes to dense, low, evergreen ground cover. 'Green supreme' has noticeably brighter green leaves than most manzanita, a brilliant contrast with the plant's ruddy branches and stems. With very little to no die back in the center, Green supreme's exceptionally dense foliage helps suppress weeds. This manzanita grows just 6 inches tall but can spread up to 12 feet. It does well on slopes, thriving in well-drained soil but also grows well in heavier clay soil that has reasonable drainage. 'Green supreme' enjoys full sun and is drought tolerant, but occasional watering every 4-6 weeks will keep this manzanita looking extra dapper. Green supreme is frost hardy to 15 to 20 °F. It is more reluctant to bloom than other manzanita varieties, but a scattering of white to pale pink flowers will appear in late spring to early summer. Green supreme is a garden hybrid introduced by the Tilden Botanic Garden. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A garden selection introduced by the Tilden Regional park Botanic Garden.

Horticultural selection from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi from Point Reyes just north of san Francisco. 'Point Reyes' is one of the most common manzanitas in cultivaton. It has deep green shiny leaves. it makes a great groundcover and slope stabilizer. It uusally stays under 1 foot tallbut will spread to about 10-12 feet. It has proven to be very garden tolerant and has done well here in the interior heat with some regular summer water. Give this manzanita a well-draining soil for best performance, but you will find it is not fussy about what type of soil; rocky or sandy, acid soils to richer heavier soils, Point Reyes seems to grow in all these conditions.

Horticultural selection A. uva-ursi: origin = cuttings (1949)Pt. Reyeys, north coast, Marin Co.; intro Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden 1956 Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A garden selection from coastal san Francisco Bay Area (point Reyes). Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Garden selection from san Bruno Mountain in san Mateo. Introduced by Ken Taylor.

Arctostaphylos viscida is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common names whiteleaf manzanita and sticky manzanita. This is a treelike shrub reaching up to five meters in height. The stems may be smooth or fuzzy, and are often hairy. The leaves are rounded to oval, sometimes slightly toothed or with hairs along the edges, and usually dull green on both surfaces. When in flower the shrub is packed heavily with densely bunching flower clusters of urn-shaped white to pale pink flowers. The fruits are shiny red or greenish-brown drupes between one half and one centimeter wide. Seeds require fire for germination. This is a plant of chaparral and coniferous forests of 3,000-5,000 ft. elevation. It is native to California and Oregon. The Miwok of northern California used the fruits to make cider.

Purple three awn (Aristida purpurea) is a perennial bunchgrass known for its graceful, upright form and striking seed heads. The base of the plant appears green, while its feathery seed heads range in color from light brown to reddish-purple, creating a dynamic visual effect as they sway in the wind. This resilient grass thrives in various habitats across the United States, including deserts, mountains, and coastal regions.

Purple three awn's seeds provide food for some songbirds, supporting wildlife in natural landscapes. The grass also serves as a valuable native alternative to invasive species, offering a durable and low-maintenance option for landscaping. Its dense root system helps stabilize the soil and creates a matrix that supports the growth of wildflowers, enhancing biodiversity.

Purple three awn is a tough and attractive plant, its seeds can be sharp and may become a nuisance in areas with heavy foot traffic. The grass self-seeds readily, so it is important to manage young plants to prevent unwanted spread.

This hardy bunchgrass is a beautiful addition to native gardens and restoration projects, offering both aesthetic value and ecological benefits.

With its aromatic fragrance and threadlike, silvery-green foliage, California Sagebrush (Artemesia californica) is a feast for the senses. This resilient, easy-to-grow shrub thrives in the toughest environments. It's a good choice for dry, sunny, and sloped areas. It tolerates nutrient-poor sandy soil, as long as it's well-draining.

California Sagebrush is extremely drought adapted; some summer water is optional but not required. A little pruning keeps it compact in the garden.

This important coastal scrub plant supports the California gnatcatcher and quail, as well as other bird and insect species.

Canyon Gray Sagebrush (Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray') is a natural cultivar of California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) from San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands in Southern California. This prostrate horticultural selection was collected and introduced by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

This plant can become a large scale groundcover, forming a 1 to 2 feet high compact mat of finely textured silvery gray-green foliage, that spreads 4 to 10 feet wide. It works well on dry slopes and draping down over walls. The flowers are fairly inconspicuous, the foliage is very aromatic when brushed.

Canyon Gray Sagebrush requires little irrigation once established, though it can go semi-dormant by later summer without occasional irrigation. It is reportedly hardy to about 20-25° F.

It tolerates almost any soil type with drainage. It prefers full sun in coastal sites, and sun to part shade in inland sites. To keep the fast growing foliage dense, the plantings can look best if 'mowed' or heavily trimmed down every 1 or 2 years.

Horticultural selection from Artemisia californica from Montara Mountain south of san Francisco. If you need an unusual groundcover that can tolerate the hot dry summer, try this low, spreading artemisia out. This lovely groundcover sagebrush has a nice neat, dense form with aromatic gray green foliage. It's a great way to add texture, color contrast and fragrance in a drought-tolerant garden. Despite it's north coast origins we have found 'Montara' to thrive in hot inland conditions with almost no supplmental water. Some speculate that it is a natural hybrid between Artemisia calif. and Artemisia pycnocephala. This is fast becoming a landscaping favorite, but is not commercially grown in many nurseries and so is hard to find.

'Montara' was selected from a cutting at Montara Mountain by Roger Raiche and introduced by Wildwood nursery in 1987. Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana) is a fast growing shrub chosen primarily for its aromatic gray foliage which makes a year round contrast behind other plants. The beautiful, silver gray leaves add texture and color to the garden. It grows to 4 feet high by 5 feet wide and will spread by underground rhizomes, especially in moist areas.The flowers are small and inconspicuous, often not producing viable seed. 

It does best in the sun but will tolerate shade. As it is native to riverbeds and other moist places it is vigorous if given water, but will tolerate drier conditions.  Dead stems cut back in the winter will resprout in the spring.

Mugwort is sometimes grown for medicinal purposes. It is also useful in restoration projects and for erosion control.

Various insects are attracted to the flowers and it hosts a likely total of 28 species of butterfly and moth.

Tarragon or dragon's-wort (Artemisia dracunculus) is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. Plants in this genus are frequently called Wormwood, but this species is usually known as Tarragon. A European cultivar of this species is used as a popular culinary spice. The species name "dracunculus" leads to the common name "dragon herb." It is native to a wide area of the Northern Hemisphere from easternmost Europe across central and eastern Asia to India, western North America, and south to northern Mexico. The North American populations may, however, be naturalized from early human introduction. In California it is found primarily in the southern half of the state, in the coastal mountains and Sierras. Tarragon grows to 120-150 centimeter tall, with slender branched stems. The leaves are lance-shaped, 2-8 centimeter long and 2-10 millimeter broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The flowers are produced in small capitulae 2-4 millimeter diameter, each capitulum containing up to 40 yellow or greenish-yellow florets. Some sources refer to this plant as an unattractive weed. It is cultivated primarily for culinary purposes but also has some wildlife value.

Artemisia palmeri is a rare species of sagebrush known by the common names San Diego sagewort and Palmer sagewort. It is native to northern Baja California and San Diego County, California, where its natural habitat is sandy coastal ravines and river drainages. Most of this habitat has been destroyed as the land has been claimed for human use. It is occasionally found farther inland in chaparral plant communities in the region. This is a perennial or biennial herb producing brittle erect or spreading stems 1 to 3 meters tall. The base is woody. The aromatic foliage is made up of long, narrow leaves deeply cut into several narrow, pointed lobes. The flower cluster contains clusters of flower heads containing pale yellow hairy disc florets. The fruit is a tiny achene about a millimeter long. It is rumored David Bowie ate this type of sagewort while writing his album Low. This plant does best in part shade, but can handle full sun or full shade as well. It is an attractive looking plant and would make a great addition to any garden, not to mention its habitat value, which is an added bonus.

Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a dense, silvery-gray shrub with an upright form, growing up to 4 feet tall and wide. Its highly aromatic foliage lasts year-round, and, unlike other sages, it develops a true woody trunk and branches, making it long-lived. In maturity, the twisted trunk adds unique visual appeal. The flowers, small and yellow-green, are often inconspicuous.

This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, is nitrogen-fixing, and is drought-tolerant. It provides significant wildlife value, attracting a variety of insects, birds, and small mammals with its flowers and seeds.Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a dense, silvery-gray shrub with an upright form, growing up to 4 feet tall and wide. Its highly aromatic foliage lasts year-round, and, unlike other sages, it develops a true woody trunk and branches, making it long-lived. In maturity, the twisted trunk adds unique visual appeal. The flowers, small and yellow-green, are often inconspicuous.

This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, is nitrogen-fixing, and is drought-adapted. It provides significant wildlife value, attracting a variety of insects, birds, and small mammals with its flowers and seeds.

Asarum caudatum (British Columbia wild ginger, Western wild ginger, or long-tailed wild ginger) is native to rich moist forests of western North America from British Columbia to California and as far east as western Montana. Within California it is found primarily along the coast from Santa Cruz County northward. In spring, it develops distinct hirsute (hairy) cup-shaped, brown-purple to green-yellow flowers which terminate in three long gracefully curved lobes, often concealed by leaves. The long rhizomes give rise to persistent reniform (kidney/heart shaped) leaves. Leaves are found in colonies or clusters as the rhizome spreads. The leaves emit a ginger aroma when rubbed.

In the garden this plant must have regular water and virtually no direct sun.

California Milkweed (Asclepias californica) is a species in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family. It is native to California and northern Baja California from the East Bay region southward and the foothills of the Sierra.

This flowering perennial has thick, white, woolly stems that bend or run along the ground. The plentiful, hanging flowers are rounded structures.

The flowers are dull to bright shades of lavender or pink and form an attractive contrast with the grey-to-white foliage. This plant was eaten as candy by the Kawaiisu tribes of Indigenous California; the milky sap within the leaves is said to be flavorful and chewy when cooked.

To maximize Monarch butterflies reaching their overwintering areas, plant only locally native milkweed species.

Asclepias eriocarpa is native to California and adjacent parts of Nevada and Baja California, where it grows in many habitat types, especially dry areas. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County southward into Mexico, in the Sierra foothills, and in the northern part of the Central Valley. It is an erect perennial herb which is usually coated in a thick layer of white hairs. The leaves are lance-shaped to oval, rippled, and arranged oppositely in pairs or in whorls of 3 or 4. The flower cluster is a large umbel-like cluster of flowers. Each flower is white to cream and usually tinted with bright pink. It has a central array of rounded hoods and a corolla reflexed against the stalk. The fruit is a large, woolly follicle. The plant is used as a source of fiber and medicine by several California Indian groups, including the Ohlone and Luiseno. In the garden it makes a striking specimen, especially when massed. All milkweeds are important to monarch butterflies.

Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) is a flowering perennial best known for the Monarch butterflies it will attract into the garden. Its long, thin pointed leaves give the plant a soft, wispy look. It blooms in summer to fall, with clusters of lavender or pinkish white flowers, each one an interesting button shape. The fruits are smooth pods, which split open to spill seeds along with plentiful silky hairs that may carry the seeds through the air.

This plant grows fast to 3 feet tall and is dormant in winter, often dying back to the ground. It will take full sun but is adaptable to most conditions, being easy to grow in soils with good drainage, even with no summer water. It can self-seed if the seed pods are not removed

This species is probably the single most important host plant for Monarch Butterflies in California, attracting them and hosting their caterpillars. It is crucial to not use any pesticide on or around the plant, because doing so will be fatal to the caterpillars. The plant also provides resources for many beneficial creatures, including native bees. Don't cut the dry stems down too soon as Orioles may use them for nesting.

Named for its abundant clusters of starlike flowers, showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is an eye-catching native plant selection for the butterfly garden. In the summer months, showy milkweed is covered in fragrant blooms in delicate shades of pink, white, and purple. The large leaves are an attractive grayish-green color.

After blooming, the plant produces large pods that contain seeds with long silky tassels, so they can be dispersed by the wind. Individual plants spread by underground rhizomes into an expanding clump. Showy milkweed has thick, sturdy stems and an upright growth habit. It can reach up to 6 ft in height. The plant goes dormant during the winter months. 

Showy milkweed is an important butterfly host plant, especially for the Monarch butterfly. Adult butterflies feed on the flower nectar and caterpillars eat the leaves. The blooms also attract hummingbirds. Like other milkweeds, this plant produces alkaloids that, when consumed, protect the caterpillars from predators.

Showy milkweed is easy to care for. It grows well in full sun and should be planted in dry, well-drained soil. Remove seed pods to prevent self-sowing. Large clumps can be pruned during the winter dormancy season.

Grows best in loamy, medium draining soil. Selection from Davis, CA.

Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern or Common Lady-fern) is a large, feathery species of fern native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, where it is often abundant (one of the more common ferns) in damp, shady woodland environments and is often grown for decoration. The plant is caespitose (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a rhizome). The fronds are light yellow-green, 20-90 centimeter long and 5-25 centimeter broad; they are deciduous. Sori appear as dots on the underside of the frond, 1-6 per pinnule. They are covered by a prominently whitish to brown reniform (kidney-shaped) indusium. Fronds are very dissected, being 3-pinnate. The stripe may bear long, pale brown, papery scales at the base.

Atriplex canescens (Chamiso, Chamiza, Four wing saltbush, Four-wing saltbush, Fourwing saltbush) is a species of evergreen shrub in the Amaranthaceae family, which is native to the western United States. Fourwing saltbush has a highly variable form, and readily hybridizes with several other species in the Atriplex genus. The degree of polyploidy also results in variations in form. Its height can vary from 1 foot to 10 feet, but 2 to 4 feet is most common. The leaves are thin and 0.5 to 2 inches long. It is most readily identified by its fruits, which have four wings at roughly 90 degree angles and are densely packed on long stems. The fruit stem resembles a mass of corn flakes.

Atriplex canscens is a great bird plant. Best to plant in dry salty soils. Susceptible to root rot unless drought or salt stressed.