Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by plant lust

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Show all photos

Arctostaphylos rudis

Also Known As

Sand Mesa Manzanita
Shagbark Manzanita

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 3'-5'
W: 3'-7'

planting zones

7b-10b

More Options

Arctostaphylos rudis plant details

Arctostaphylos rudis is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with green foliage. In spring and winter white flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Attracts birds, butterflies 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, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Arctostaphylos rudis

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: ericaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 3 FT - 7 FT - wide, 3 FT - 5 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring and winter
Uses: distinctive bark, peeling bark

GROWING CONDITIONS for Arctostaphylos rudis

USDA Zones: 7b - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: seaside / salt and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: acidic, average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Very choice species native to CA and growing on old stablized sand dunes where it can reach 3' high and twice as wide. This could make a nice specimen plant, low hedge or large informal groundcover. Drought and salt tolerant with early season white flowers and birds will eat the fruit.

By: Far Reaches Farm

You may have noticed a recurring theme as I describe each of these manzanitas: smooth red bark, smooth red bark, smooth red bark, blah, blah, blah. But here, at long last, we finally have something different! Not just your ordinary smooth red bark, my friends, but rough, stringy, even shaggy bark! Wow. Other than that, this species shares most of the same characteristics as the other manzanitas, including its contorted branching habit and small, attractive, rounded leaves. Actually, I find the leaves on this species to be exceptionally pleasing in texture, as are the clusters of soft white flowers. If I were dyslexic, I could call this 'bagshark manzanita', but that wouldn't make as much sense. Does it resemble a bag of sharks? Not really. So we will go with shagbark. It will prefer a sunny, well drained location, where it may reach a height of 6' or more with greater spread over time. Hardy to about 5 °F. Evergreen shrub to 4' x 7'

By: The Desert Northwest

Garden photo gallery of Arctostaphylos rudis

Photo of Arctostaphylos rudis by plant lust

View Full Size

By: plant lust

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

View Original Photo

Gardening facts about Arctostaphylos rudis plant

How to Grow Arctostaphylos rudis

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