Arctostaphylos hookeri franciscana Franciscana Manzanita

Identification

Description

Franciscan Manzanita is an evergreen groundcover manzanita, with red bark, two by six feet, that grows best near the coast in sun. In the interior this subspecies prefers afternoon shade and regular water, but has become very drought tolerant in the demonstration garden here. This is a manzanita that is presumed extinct and has been saved by botanic gardens and nurseries. This manzanita seems to tolerate a wide range of conditions and still looks good. It is the lowest manzanita that we can use in the San Joaquin Valley. This one is about as hardy as Howard McMinn manzanita, approximately 0 degrees F.. Franciscan Manzanita appears as if it contains some genetic material from a species that grows more in the interior of California, such as the coast ranges and not just the immediate coast. Whatever the final note on its parentage, it is an admirable lower ground cover in the interior coast ranges and the interior valleys where other low manzanitas appear fried and do not grow well. Planted in the Rainbow area in full sun on red sandstone the resulting groundcover was a sight to behold, dark green with red tints, two foot high and BEAUTIFUL!

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