This variable shrub has reddish brown upright or spreading stems that form a sprawling tree like habit. It has shiny dark green rounded leathery leaves and the small urn-shaped pink flowers appear in pendant clusters from late winter to early spring.

Hardiness zones 7 to 10 

Arctostaphylos viridissima is naturally found in North America growing on the Channel Island of Santa Cruz in California in chaparral or open pine woodlands at an altitude from a 100 m to 600 m (2,000 ft). 

It prefers an open sunny to exposed position and grows in well-drained moderately fertile acidic shale base soils with a pH 5-7 and is frost and drought tolerant.  

The Whitehair Manzanita is grown for its flowers and bushy habit. It is planted in parks and gardens along borders or used in woodland settings for attracting birds. It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions establishing in 3-4 years and is moderately long-lived. This shrub is also suitable for embankment or coastal plantings tolerating salt laden winds. It may be difficult to obtain outside its native region requiring a specialist nursery. ID 3397

Note
This shrub has become endangered in its natural environment due to habitat destruction.

Arctostaphylos (AHK -toh-STAF-ee-los) viridissima (VEE-ree-DIS-ee-mah)

Ericaceae (er-ek-AY-see-ee)
Bilberries, Blueberries,Cranberies, Heathers, Heaths, Rhododendrons, Wintergreens