This document summarizes information about the Pajaro Manzanita shrub, including: - It is endemic to Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, found in maritime chaparral and oak woodlands on sandy or sandy loam soils. - It is an evergreen shrub that grows 4-6 feet tall and wide, with dense foliage that can be used as a groundcover or specimen plant. - It blooms in winter with small pink or white urn-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. The berries are edible. - It is drought tolerant once established and prefers full sun to light shade with well-draining soil. It requires little care other than occasional water and

1. * Pajaro Manzanita – Arctostaphylos pajaroensis
(ark-toh-STAF-ih-los pa-har-oh-EN-sis)
Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Native to: Endemic to Monterey & Santa Cruz counties; maritime chaparral or edges of Coastal Oak
Woodland on deep to shallow, sandy soils or sandstone outcroppings.
woody shrub
mature height: 4-6 ft.
mature width: 4-8+ ft.
Sprawling evergreen shrub with mounding shape that makes it useful as a shrub or woody
groundcover. Bark dark-red to gray (older). Very dense foliage – leaves are simple, typical for
Manzanitas, green to blue-green. Leaves may turn red in fall/winter in colder gardens. New leaves
often have coppery edges – very attractive & unusual.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in winter (Dec-Jan most common). Flowers are the small, pink-white, urnshaped flowers typical of Manzanitas. Very showy in bloom and a favorite of hummingbirds.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: One of the better medium-size Manzanitas for the garden.
Does well even in
hotter inland areas.
Most often used as a specimen plant or as a taller groundcover. May be
pruned as a small tree. Dense foliage makes it a good habitat plant. Can be hedged lightly. Berries
are edible (usually to make cider drink or cooked). Arctostaphylos parajoensis X A. hookeri hybrid
‘Sunset’ makes excellent ground cover. Cultivars ‘Myrtle Wolfe’, ‘Paradise’ and ‘Warren Roberts’ are
attractive choices. Be sure to see it, in bloom if possible, before selecting species or cultivar.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native woody shrubs/small trees.
Attracts: Excellent habitat for birds, small animals: provides cover, nesting sites and berries.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to light shade
Well-drained best; likes a sandy soil. pH to 6.0 (slightly acidic) to neutral.
Zone 2 is probably optimal (occasional summer water) but quite drought tolerant.
None needed; use an organic mulch
Quite easy to grow in well-drained soils. Can be pruned to shape – even lightly
hedged – if desired, but has a nice natural shape.
Management:
Propagation: from seed:
yes
by cuttings: semi-soft-wood in summer-fall
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 14
1/29/10
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co.
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