Arctostaphylos 'Sonia Q' - Sonia Q Manzanita

Description

Here is an exciting new introduction from Richard Davis at the California Botanic Garden!  This was a seedling he and his late wife, Sonia Q, discovered at their cabin in Arrowhead, CA.  Exact parentage of this specimen is not known but it will for sure be a superstar in the garden. Grows to about 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide with a somewhat open habit, leaves are a leathery green with an interesting acuminate tip.  Flower clusters are white to blush pink and bloom late winter to early spring.  It's not a groundcover exactly but stays prostrate- perfect if you need something low-ish, evergreen, drought tolerant, and beautiful.  Seeing as its origins are in the Transverse Ranges at high elevation, it may not be suitable for coastal gardens, the jury is out on that one.  It is quite hardy- to ten degrees and withstands some snow cover.