Arctostaphylos insularis - Island Manzanita

Description

This manzanita is from Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. It forms a large shrub to small tree with erect branches, reaching about 7' - 15' with age. Smooth, bright green leaves and very attractive, light ochre branches bear spreading, white flowered panicles in early spring. It requires sun, and occasional summer water and tolerates heavy soil. Somewhat frost sensitive it did not survive the heavy freeze of 1989-90 in our garden.