Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth]

Also Known As

Hairy Manzanita

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 6'-10'
W: 6'-8'

planting zones

7a-10a

More Options

Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth] plant details

Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth] is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with blue and green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge followed by red and yellow fruit. Attracts bees, birds and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, average, clay, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, verticillium wilt resistant and wind tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth]

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: ericaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 6 FT - 8 FT - wide, 6 FT - 10 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring
Uses: year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth]

USDA Zones: 7a - 10a
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer, heat, verticillium wilt and wind
Soil needs: acidic, average, clay, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Of all the A. columbiana forms I have seen, this one, coming from Dewatto Road in north Mason County, remains the most intriguing to me. It's large, and vigorous, and it really doesn't look much like A. columbiana at all on close inspection. For one thing, it's not at all hairy. The leaves are larger than usual and it has an excellent upright growth form. The fruits are yellow rather than red, and remain so for a long time before eventually turning red-brown and dropping off. (I haven't seen the flowers yet.) In some ways it looks at least half like A. canescens, except for the upright habit, which almost suggests A. manzanita, and the yellow fruit which are just plain odd. Could other manzanita species have inhabited western Washington during the Holocene Warm Period, only to go extinct later leaving behind some scattered hybrids? Who knows? These plants should be studied more thoroughly. In the meantime, try it and report back to me!

By: The Desert Northwest

Gardening facts about Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth] plant

How to Grow Arctostaphylos columbiana! [Mr. Smooth]

Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly sun
Water Needs
- occasional - drought tolerant
Water Needs
- dry in summer
Soil Needs
- clay
- acidic
- adaptable
- average
- lean
- well-drained
- rocky
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- wind tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant