Description

This is one of the many species of manzanita found growing near San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast. This is one of the manzanita “hot spots” where numerous species occur together in a small geographic area. An interesting element of these hot spots is that each species favors a soil of a certain type. This is referred to as “edaphic endemism.” It characterizes other manzanita hot spots, such as the Pacific side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. (For more on this, refer to Field Guide to Manzanitas by Kauffmann, Parker, Vasey and Bisbee). The Morro manzanita favors sandy soils (“pleistocene sands”). Fortunately, manzanitas are quite adaptable to other soil types in the garden. The Morro manzanita grows wider than tall, with olive green, oval leaves over gray, shreddy bark. This is one of the manzanita species that develops a basal burl. This allows it to regenerate after fire. The winter flowers range from white to pink. Like other manzanitas, Morro manzanita prefers well-draining soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. Plant this coastal endemic in partial shade in hot, interior sites.