Manzanita heaven: January in Portland

Posted February 5, 2011 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach

Mt. Hood with manzanita in foreground (A. patula)

Manzanitas have been a persistent theme in my life since my childhood visits to California: I could write a small book (and maybe will some day) about how these amazing native shrubs have impacted my life. Most recently–exactly a week ago in fact–Sean Hogan and I drove practically around the whole of Mt. Hood, into eastern Oregon on a magical Friday in search of manzanita. There are, in fact, four species of Arctostaphylos found on the drier slopes of Mt. Hood: our familiar kinnikinnick (A. uva-ursi) making flat mats, a slightly taller A. nevadensis, and two I will dwell upon in a minute: first take a gander at that magnificent volcano with its lenticular halo and the glistening manzanita in front: what better place to be on planet earth in January! Portland ROCKS!

Artostaphylos patula on left, A. columbiana on the right

Now to get down to brass tacks: the bright green manzanita on the left grows in Western Colorado, although not as tall as it does here in Oregon. On the right was the Grail: A. columbiana,  a much bluer, hairier endemic of Oregon which I’ve wanted to find for decades really. And here they were together!

Hybrid between Arctostaphylos patula and A. columbiana

And better yet, here is their offspring: we found two plants that seemed exactly intermediate between the nearby parents. A hybrid! Hybrid manzanitas are often more adaptable and are often easier to propagate. Needless to say, I came back with cuttings of all of these which are rooting as we speak in our propagation greenhouses…even in the depths of winter, the work of plant exploration at Denver Botanic Gardens keeps on. Dan Johnson and Mike Kintgen are wandering the vastness of Patagonia in search of plants as I type this. This magical day was a lark, I confess. It was also the result of decades research and curiosity about these amazing plants in the Heath Family which are primarily concentrated in California, but many grow as far as Oregon and Colorado as well. They have gorgeous bark and foliage year around, enchanting flowers in late winter and spring, and berries in the fall: the perfect four season shrub. And drought tolerant to boot!

Sean Hogan, of Cistus Design Nursery

I finish with a picture of my host, Sean Hogan. I’ve been privileged to know this remarkable designer/plantsman for a quarter century. Check out his wonderful book he recently published: Trees for All Seasons. His nursery, Cistus Design Nursery, on Sauvie Island is a veritable cornucopia of plant treasures. I don’t think anyone has traveled America and Mexico more widely, with such a sharp eye and camera. As well as South America and South Africa. Sean is in Germany as I type this, speaking on American plants at a European perennials confrerence. Break a leg, buddy! I have no doubt you will dazzle them. Strange to think that one day there may be countless manzanitas in Colorado and beyond, all mementos of a drive Sean and I took last Friday!