Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’
A low, dense evergreen groundcover manzanita that mounds to roughly one foot tall and spreads four to six feet wide with small, glossy emerald-green leaves on reddish stems. It tolerates more summer water and heavier soils than most manzanitas, accepting full sun along the coast and light shade inland, with moderate to low irrigation once established. Tiny pinkish-white urn-shaped flowers appear in late winter to early spring, drawing native bees and hummingbirds. Use it as a uniform weed-suppressing groundcover for slopes, parkways, and large beds where a tidy, year-round green carpet is wanted.