Description:

A handsome groundcover selection that is compact, with small gray-green leaves that emerge coral; small white flowers in mid-winter, followed by red fruit; does not like alkaline soils; this is a coastal plant, protect from midday sun when planted inland

Ornamental Features

Autumn Glow Manzanita features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late winter to early spring. It has attractive grayish green foliage with hints of chartreuse which emerges coral-pink in spring. The small oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. It produces red berries from mid to late summer.

Landscape Attributes

Autumn Glow Manzanita is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Autumn Glow Manzanita is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Autumn Glow Manzanita will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have sandy, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.