Description

This manzanita is one of the many contributions to the nursery trade by Bert Wilson of Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita. He and daughter Penny describe this selection as a hybrid involving Arctostaphylos bakeri ‘Louis Edmunds.’ Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Sentinel,’ and/or Arctostaphylos manzanita. ‘Mama Bear’ is most like Arctostaphylos manzanita in overall appearance. It grows in an upright, open form with oval olive green leaves over smooth dark red (sienna or umber?) bark. The abundant winter flowers are white with a blush of pink. This adaptable shrub is a good substitute for the popular ‘Dr. Hurd’ when a taller, more tree-like manzanita is desired.