Plant Highlights

Franciscana Manzanita is an evergreen groundcover manzanita with dark green foliage and red bark that has surprised us with its hardiness in inland conditions. Originally native to the San Francisco Bay area, this manzanita was thought to be extinct in the wild until recently when a chance sighting by a botanist saved the last remaining stand from destruction during a freeway upgrade. Franciscan manzanita is still considered a rare and endangered species (List 1B). Fortunately cuttings have been distributed to botanic gardens and specialized nurseries, making this tough survivor available to gardeners. This manzanita seems to tolerate a wide range of conditions and still looks good. We have been constantly impressed by the reliability and hardiness of this attractive groundcover.