Hooker's manzanita
This hardy, groundcover manzanita is denser and a little more refined than the popular ‘Wayside’ selection. Pointed, smaller, rich-green leaves clothe mounding branches reaching 2’-3’ tall and 6’-8’ wide. In winter, the white, urn-shaped flowers are somewhat sparse, making the lustrous, evergreen foliage the star of the show. Tolerates more heat, more sun and needs less water than the bearberry. A great option as a bank cover, where it enjoys full sun to light shade, infrequent irrigation, and tolerates clay soil. Combine with deer grass and CA fuchsia for a hardy and attractive planting. The Hooker’s manzanita is a rare native from coastal Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.