Our Plants

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L    M    N    O    P    Q    R    S    T    U    V    W    X    Z

Pages


More information »

Arctostaphylos stanfordiana

(Stanford manzanita)

One of the most beautiful of manzanitas with handsome dark mahogany bark, dense shiny green leaves and flowers ranging in color from intense pink to white. Its upright form ranges in height from 4 to 8 ft with a somewhat narrower width. Native to warmer areas of northern California's Coast Range, this species requires excellent drainage, full sun and NO water once established.
Arctostaphylos stanfordiana 'Sonoma' Stanford manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos stanfordiana 'Sonoma'

(Stanford manzanita)

Masses of deep pink flowers and glossy, deep green leaves are an enticing feature of this uncommon selection.  But what really distinguishes this cultivar from other Stanford manzanitas is the fact that it actually survives in the garden! Most other selections of this species are notoriously challenging to keep alive in cultivation. While fairly slow growing, the dense foliage mounds up over time to reach a height and width of about 5 ft. The striking burgundy-red trunks contrast nicely with the green leaves. Needs full sun and excellent drainage. No summer water once established.
Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. decumbens  Rincon manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. decumbens

(Rincon manzanita)

A Sonoma County endemic, this rare manzanita is from Rincon Ridge east of Santa Rosa. Low growing mounding shrub to as much as 3 ft tall by 4 ft. wide. Charming pink urn-shaped flowers in early spring. Handsome, rugged and drought tolerant. Best in full sun with good drainage, no water necessary once established. A good choice for lean soils, summer heat and drought.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Green Supreme' bearberry
More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Green Supreme'

(bearberry)

A superior garden hybrid of the trailing bearberry. A volunteer seedling discovered by staff at Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Ultimately spreads 4 - 12 ft. across and no more than 6 inches tall. Enjoys moderate to occasional irrigation.  The glossy bright green leaves create a beautiful groundcover. Tolerates a wide range of soil types with reasonable drainage. Very disease resistant and fast growing. Shy to bloom or set berries. Sun to part-shade.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Point Reyes' Point Reyes bearberry
More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Point Reyes'

(Point Reyes bearberry)

  An unusual selection of our native bearberry discovered near the Point Reyes lighthouse in Marin County.  Dark green, leathery leaves form distinctive whorls along the stems with pale pink, urn-shaped flowers emerging in early winter. The showy red berries  contrast nicely with the dark green leaves.  Reaching a height of about l8” and a width approaching 6 ft., this groundcover works well in a rock garden or mixed with other low shrubs and grasses from our coastal areas.  Give moderate water in interior locations and protect from the hot afternoon sun.  
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Radiant' bearberry
More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Radiant'

(bearberry)

A very low mat of glossy, dark green foliage 6 - 8 inches high and creeping 4 - 6 ft. across. Light pink flowers in early winter are followed by showy red berries. In hot inland areas give moderate water and light afternoon shade. A sturdy evergreen groundcover.

More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Samoa Dunes'

(bearberry)

This Humboldt County selection of the ubiquitous bearberry distinguishes itself with large, rounded, glossy leaves of deep green. Reaching a height of about 6 inches and a width of at least 6 feet, this durable groundcover spreads quickly to form a weed-smothering carpet. Little urn-shaped flowers colored soft pink appear in spring and are followed by shiny red berries. Provide full sun to part shade and moderate to occasional irrigation once established. Protect from the hot afternoon sun in warmer areas. The shiny, dark green foliage combines well with grey-leaved plants such as Artemisia ‘David’s Choice’ and the fescue ‘Patrick’s Point’. 

More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'San Bruno Mountain'

(bearberry)

A beautiful selection of bearberry from San Bruno Mountain south of San Francisco. This groundcover manzanita forms a luxuriant mat of large, glossy, spatulate leaves spreading to around 6 feet wide. The soft pink urn-shaped flowers lead to big red showy berries.  A natural for coastal plantings where it can grow in full sun with little to no summer water needed. Inland, bearberry does best with shade from the hot afternoon sun and moderate summer watering.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Wood's Compact' bearberry
More information »

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Wood's Compact'

(bearberry)

A low growing, spreading manzanita with lustrous green, rounded foliage, little pink urn-shaped flowers and pretty red berries, quite large for the species. This selection from coastal Oregon spreads at a moderate pace to 6-8 feet wide and only getting 6-8 inches tall. Full sun to light shade in hot areas with moderate summer water.
Arctostaphylos virgata  Marin manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos virgata

(Marin manzanita)

Plant description coming soon.
Arctostaphylos viridissima 'White Cloud' white haired manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos viridissima 'White Cloud'

(white haired manzanita)

Description coming soon!
Arctostaphylos viscida  whiteleaf manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos viscida

(whiteleaf manzanita)

Plant description coming soon.
Arctostaphylos x media 'Bokeya Pomo' manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos x media 'Bokeya Pomo'

(manzanita)

From the rugged Mendocino coast comes this distinctive manzanita groundcover. Similar to the selection ‘Peter Ehrlich’ with its large, rounded, grey-green leaves but with a slightly more upright, sculptural form which is not quite as dense. Even though it will reach a width of at least 6 ft. over time and height of 2ft., it may take several years to do so.  Urn-shaped white flowers appear in the winter and are followed by round, green fruits in the spring.  Provide full sun to light shade and moderate to occasional irrigation once established.  Should be fairly drought tolerant once established.

More information »

Arctostaphylos x media 'Humboldt Mystery'

(manzanita)

Arching branches and a mounding habit up to 5 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide distinguish this manzanita from its relatives. In winter, pinkish-white flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds and bees, followed by large, red berries in the autumn. Burnished red trunks display a colorful backdrop to the leathery, large, dark green leaves. Plant in full sun to light shade and provide moderate to infrequent irrigation. James Roof of Tilden Botanic Garden discovered this unusual selection somewhere on the Humboldt Coast, but, true to his enigmatic character, refused to say where he found it. It is believed to be a natural cross between bearberry and the hairy manzanita.
Arctostaphylos x media 'Peter Ehrlich' manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos x media 'Peter Ehrlich'

(manzanita)

This unusual manzanita from the southern Mendocino coast features what may be the largest leaves of any of the groundcover manzanitas. The round, grey-green foliage mounds densely over time to reach a height of about 3 ft. and a width of up to 8 ft. Clusters of white flowers gather at branch tips in winter, followed by little apple-like fruits in the spring.  While fairly adaptable in the garden, decent drainage is best and full sun to light shade.  Accepting of moderate irrigation but will become quite drought tolerant once established.
Arctostaphylos x media 'Reina de Arena' manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos x media 'Reina de Arena'

(manzanita)

An outstanding selection from a special population of natural manzanita hybrids, holding court on the rugged, fog shrouded, coastal bluffs of Point Arena in Mendocino County. The "Queen" forms a lovely, compact mound of large, rounded, fuzzy leaves, reaching up to about 2 ft. high and at least 6 ft. wide. Elegant, pure white, urn-shaped flowers decorate the branch tips in winter and are an early nectar source for hummingbirds and bumblebees. Plant in full sun to light shade and give moderate to infrequent summer water once established. Plants grown in hot areas will benefit from some afternoon shade and extra irrigation.
Arctostaphylos x media - Point Arena forms  manzanita
More information »

Arctostaphylos x media - Point Arena forms

(manzanita)

This special and diverse group of manzanitas come from Point Arena on the southern Mendocino Coast. These naturally occurring hybrids involve at least two species: A. uva-ursi, A. columbiana and sometimes A. nummularia. The resulting offspring have wonderfully varying features. The leaves range from large, light-green, and fuzzy to small, dark-green and glossy. The plants can form a mounding habit reaching up to 4 feet tall or hug the ground to form dense mats. Plant in full sun to light shade and give moderate to infrequent irrigation once established. Plants grown in hot areas will benefit from extra irrigation and some afternoon shade.

More information »

Arctostaphylos x media - Tilden form

(manzanita)

This big-leaved selection was discovered at Point Arena on the southern Mendocino coast by Steve Edwards of Tilden Botanic Garden. Distinctive for its large, hairy, apple-green leaves and low, dense form only reaching up to about a foot in height and at least 6 ft. in width. Clusters of white flowers appear in spring followed by round, bright green fruits. Plant in full sun to light shade and provide moderate to occasional irrigation once established. Should be quite drought tolerant once established.
Aristolochia californica  Dutchman's pipe vine
More information »

Aristolochia californica

(Dutchman's pipe vine)

Dutchman’s pipe vine is an interesting vine native to river, stream side and woodland habitats. Soft heart-shaped leaves and unusual purplish pipe-shaped flowers bloom in early spring. This deciduous twining plant will need some support if you wish it to grow upwards. Adaptable, but best with a little shade and moderate water. Slow to establish, we offer this adage to encourage patience: “The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps”. Once established it will put on ample growth, easily covering a trellis or chain link fence. THE larval food source for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. Deer resistant.
Armeria maritima ssp. californica  sea thrift
More information »

Armeria maritima ssp. californica

(sea thrift)

Grown from northern California seed source, this coastal native is a sturdy perennial with grass-like blades in compact clumps. Pink pompom flowers on long stems bloom spring into summer. A natural along the coast where it grows in full sun, needing a little shade in hotter regions. Moderate to little water with decent drainage. Excellent for rock gardens. Deer resistant.

More information »

Armeria maritima ssp. californica 'Point Saint George'

(white sea thrift)

Sea thrift is an evergreen perennial native to coastal areas of California with pom-pom flower clusters held on leafless stalks. Normally the spring flowers are pink, but ‘Point Saint George’ has pure white flowers. Discovered on the coastal bluffs of Pt. St. George, an ecologically rich area just north of Crescent City, this beauty stood out among a sea of pink flowers. Forming compact mounds of narrow, dark-green leaves in grass-like tufts 6 inches or so high by 6 to 10 inches wide. A natural along the coast where it can bloom over a long period, sea thrift grows best in lean, well drained soils in full sun. Drought tolerant and not tolerant of heavy soils. Can be used inland in hotter sites with afternoon shade and moderate to occasional summer water.  
Arnica chamissonis  meadow arnica, chamisso arnica
More information »

Arnica chamissonis

(meadow arnica, chamisso arnica )

Native to moist meadows in mountainous regions of California and western North America. This delighful perennial grows 1 - 2 feet tall and wide with cheerful, bright golden-yellow daisies in early summer. The bright green, lance-shaped leaves sit in opposite pairs along them stems. Grow in full sun to light shade with decent draining soils and regular moisture. Said to have the same medicinal properties of its European cousin, but easier to grow. Flowers support bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Winter deciduous. Deer resistant.
Artemisia californica  California sagebrush
More information »

Artemisia californica

(California sagebrush)

Native to coastal regions from Northern California to Baja. Densely branched shrub with finely divided gray-green scented foliage. Grows 2 - 4 ft. tall and wide. Light pruning or pinching help keep it dense. Grown for its wonderful texture and foliage color, flowers are inconspicuous. Requires decent drainage and full sun. Thrives in coastal environments, but has performed well inland, especially on slopes where cold air and winter wet drains away. Drought and deer tolerant.
Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray' prostrate California sagebrush
More information »

Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray'

(prostrate California sagebrush)

An unusual prostrate form of our coastal native sagebrush, forming a loose, nearly flat mat of finely cut, silvery, fragrant foliage around 4 ft. wide. Useful as a bank cover or for the top of a retaining wall where it can cascade over the edge. Combines beatifully with ceanothus, buckwheats and iris. Should be cut back from time to time to keep dense. Enjoys full sun to light shade and is very drought tolerant once established. Deer resistant.
Artemisia californica 'Montara' California sagebrush
More information »

Artemisia californica 'Montara'

(California sagebrush)

Selected by Roger Raiche at Montara Ridge in San Mateo County. Forms a mound of finely cut fragrant foliage to around 2 ft. tall by 3 ft. (or more) wide. Requires full sun with decent drainage and is drought tolerant once established. Occasional summer water helps retain fresh look. Thrives in coastal environments. Deer resistant.

Pages

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L    M    N    O    P    Q    R    S    T    U    V    W    X    Z