Description

This lovely manzanita is one of many with a very limited natural range. Mt. Diablo manzanita grows exclusively on the slopes of the mountain which lent it its name. It grows as an upright shrub to six feet or so, with gray, hairy clasping (“auriculate”) leaves. The leaves are spaced quite densely on the young branches, often obscuring the branches altogether. Mt. Diablo manzanita will open up as it matures, taking on more of a tree form. The winter flowers are light pink. The small orange-red fruit that follows will persist for many months. A sunny, well-draining site is ideal. In West San Jose, I amended a bed of fine textured sandy loam with sand and volcanic gravel to improve the drainage. After five years, my Mt. Diablo manzanita grows about six inches a year with little or no supplemental irrigation.