Little Sur Manzanita                ark-tow-STAF-i-los ed-MUNDZ-ee-eye

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub or ground cover, mat- or mound-like habit, to 4 ft (1.2) m high in its habitat, usually much less [i.e., 12 inches (30 cm)] in cultivation, forming a mat 6 ft (1.8 m) wide or more.  Stems finely tomentose, may root when in contact with the soil.  Leaves alternate, simple, round to round-ovate, 1–2.5 cm long and about 1 cm wide, base truncate to somewhat lobed, margin entire, blade often cupped with the upper surface being convex, dark green, sometimes shiny; petiole 2–3 mm long.  New growth often reddish or bronze.  Flowers small, pink, in small clusters.  Fruit 6–8 mm wide, flattened sphere, without hairs, reddish brown.
• Sun or part shade.  Drought and some forms heat tolerant.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 7    Native to the central coast of California.  Several selections are available in nurseries, including:
  • ‘Carmel Sur’ ---- robust grower, gray-green leaves, pink flowers.
  • ‘Bert Johnson’ ---- forms a flat mat, gray-green leaves, bronze new growth, white flowers with pink tinge.
  • ‘Danville’ ---- light green leaves on reddish stems, pink flowers.
  • ‘Little Sur’ ---- slow growing, forms a dense mat, pointed leaves with reddish margins, pink flowers.
  • var. parvifolia (‘Parvifolia’) ---- slow growing, forms a dense mat, glossy leaves, new growth bronzy, pink flowers, reportedly best in a coastal environment.