Canyon Blush Manzanita

A massive shrub whose lower branches may root, 'Canyon Blush' is a beautiful manzanita with light pink flowers in winter, followed by a decorative crop of "little apple" fruits. Its name refers to both the red-flushed new foliage and the blush of pink in the flowers, which fade to white. Older leaves have a faintly bluish cast.

Very tolerant of drought conditions in southern California, but also accepts moderate summer water when planted in well-drained soils. Susceptible to branch dieback disease caused by the fungus Botryosphaeria ribis. Use drip irrigation in place of overhead watering to reduce spread of this disease. Occasional leaf spot. Quite effective as a sprawling, large-scale groundcover, or cascading down a slope.

A Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Introduction. An Arctostaphylos glauca hybrid selected by horticulturist Dara Emery from a chance seedling in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.