Austin Griffith's Manzanita is a
hybrid between Arctostaphylos
densiflora 'Sentinel'
and Arctostaphylos
manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'
manzanitas was introduced in the 1980's by Native Sons Nursery in
memory of Austin Griffin who volunteered in the conservation of the Nipomo
Dunes and at Native Sons Nursery for years before his death.(I remember
him as an athletic guy in his 60's with white hair that rode his bike
to work and was very enthusiastic about native plants. A nice friendly
guy.) His botanical enthusiasm is remembered by many.
The plant itself grows to 12 ft or so tall and 12 feet wide. In our garden it has been easily held to 6 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide. If you prune it up you can have a 15 ft. specimen with purplish red trunks and oink flowers. The bark is red, red stems, large flower clusters of small pink flowers with the foliage a glossy green. Flowering period is for most of January into February. The first flowers the hummingbirds can find are usually at Christmas. Kind of a present for the little buzz-erds.
Austin Griffith's Manzanita prefers a sandy soil but does will in clay as long as it doesn't stand in water. One of the most stable native plants we grow.
When in flower or not, customers walk over to it and say
"what's this?, I want one. I'll make room." In a mixed planting with
either Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd', Arctostaphylos
'Mama Bear', Ceanothus
'Tassajara Blue' and Ceanothus
'Ray Hartman' you can create a hedge of beauty and life.
Click here for more about California Manzanitas(Arctostaphylos).
This plant is one the best wildlife plants we have. The nectar is superior to almost any other plant. The chipmunks love the berries. Birds even eat the flowers. Hummingbirds, butterflies and even the 'normal' birds love the Austin Griffth's Manzanita flowers. Loved by all, go Austin!
Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita' tolerates clay.
Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita' is great for a bird garden and a butterfly garden.
Foliage of Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita' has color green-gray and is evergreen.
Flower of Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita' has color pink.
Fruit of Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita' is edible.
Communities for Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora 'Austin Griffiths Manzanita':Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Central Oak Woodland.
ph: | 5.00 to 7.70 |
---|---|
usda: | 7 to 10 |
height[m]: | 2.50 to 3.50 |
width[m]: | 2.50 to 3.00 |
rainfall[cm]: | 35.00 to 120.00 |