The Pacific Mist manzanita is a low growing shrub that develops a rambling and spreading habit comprised of twisting and arching branches, maturing to 2-3 ft. tall and spreading 6-10 ft. wide. Evergreen foliage is distinctively gray-green; 1-2 in. long leaves are pointed and attached to purple-red stems. Small clusters of white flowers develop sporadically during late winter and are mostly inconspicuous.
Pacific Mist manzanita is a hybrid seedling introduced in the trade by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont. In contrast to many other species and cultivars of manzanita, Pacific Mist is noted for its rapid growth, grayish foliage color and prostrate habit. It has shown good adaptation to the Inland Empire when grown in full sun to partial shade and with with low amounts of summer irrigation. It needs good drainage and does not respond well to alkaline conditions or clay soils.
When the Pacific Mist manzanita is planted 5-6 ft. apart, it will grow into a spreading mat-type plant and can perform well as a ground cover. This habit makes it useful on banks and slopes in combination with other California native plants. It is also planted above garden walls and allowed to cascade over the edge for a pleasing border treatment.
