Other Names:  Dune Manzanita

Description:

A petite, low-lying selection, forming flat bushes, and patchy, creeping mats in sandy soil; branch tips take root as they spread; dark green leaves are fuzzy gray underneath; white flowers in sparse clusters appear in winter, followed by brownish drupes

Ornamental Features

Sandmat Manzanita features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers with shell pink overtones at the ends of the branches from mid winter to early spring. It has forest green foliage with grayish green undersides and tinges of red which emerges light green in spring. The small fuzzy oval leaves remain forest green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy brown drupes displayed from mid to late summer.

Landscape Attributes

Sandmat Manzanita is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

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 and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Sandmat Manzanita is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Sandmat Manzanita will grow to be about 3 feet 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 may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. 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 species is native to parts of North America.