Panchito Manzanita is one of my favorite plants- and not just because the name is so fun to say. What sets this plant apart is that it’s: 1) low-growing, 2) evergreen , and 3) it can handle full sun and minimal watering. That combination can be difficult to find outside of the standard limited options like the low-growing junipers.
As we convert more lawn areas into Xeriscape to save water, I think the use of evergreen plants is a vital design element to help replace some of the green color of the replaced lawn that is lost. Panchito Manzanita is an excellent choice because it looks great year-round, stays fairly compact, and requires little maintenance.
PLANT STATS
Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos x coloradoensis
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub
Mature Height: 12-24″
Mature Spread: 18″-48″ (quite variable, depending on conditions)
Water Requirement: Low- may need more water the first growing season, but requires little water once established.
Exposure: Full Sun to very light shade
Best Features: Unique evergreen foliage consisting of leathery 1″ long leaves. This plant really looks great year-round.
Flowers: Small urn-shaped pink to white flowers from February to April
Winter Interest: Very attractive evergreen foliage, reddish colored stems and bark
Disadvantages: Slow grower the first season or two
Availability and Sizes: I have been told that this plant is quite difficult to propagate- therefor It can be a little hard to find. As it gains more popularity and demand for it goes up, it should be available in larger quantities. Usually it is sold in 1 gallon size containers. Since it is slow-growing, a 5 gallon size shrub would be even better.
Maintenance Tip: A low maintenance plant. You may want to prune a branch or two here or there.
Other: Named to Plant Select in 2006. Do not confuse with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, which prefers much more moisture and shade.
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Will this plant do well in San Antonio, Texas – zone 8b?
Yes, it should do great!
Rabbits are a problem here in So. Colo. Do they eat Panchito Manzanita?
I’ve never seen the rabbits touch them. Good luck!
will panchito provide erosion control?
Hi Claudia- I believe they would work well for this. They are relatively slow growing the first couple of seasons, so depending on how closely you were to space the plantings I might recommend installing a biodegradable straw blanket under and between the plantings to assist in erosion control.
I live in Littleton, Co and had a professional gardener put in a planting area in my front yard in April 2014. I have a manzanita shrub but it has not grown at all. The leaves are green and it looks healthy. I have rock in my planting area. Would that make a difference in the growth progress?
Hi Helen,
Manzanitas are notorious for being slow to establish. The Plant Select guidebook says “The first year it sits, the second year it walks and the third year is lopes.” So hopefully it will start showing some noticeable growth next year. They do like to have good drainage, and some people say they prefer afternoon shade. However I’ve seen specimens around town that are in full sun and look great. The rock in your planting area should not be a problem for the manzanitas. In their native range, they are found growing in rocky, decomposed granite soil.
Some of my panchito leaves are turning yellow with black spots. Am I over watering it?