Arctostaphylos densiflora 'White Lanterns' (White Lantern Manzanita) - A very dense shrub to 5-7 ft tall by 8-12 ft wide with small elliptical medium-green leaves and white flowers that are tinged pink and are borne in profusion in late winter.
Plant in full sun to part shade. Irrigate initially but it is eventually drought tolerant in Southern California. Hardy to 0-10 F. This plant is a beautiful winter-blooming shrub with flowers contrasting well with the dark mahogany bark. It is similar to 'Howard McMinn' but denser and finer textured. It is a great choice as a specimen plant or for mass planting in sun or part shade.
Arctostaphylos densiflora 'White Lanterns' is Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Introduction from a volunteer plant selected in the garden by legendary horticulturist Dara Emery. It has been more lately identified as a selection of Arctostaphylos densiflora. Nevin Smith of Suncrest nurseries has noted that this plant is exceptionally resistant to disease. Our thanks to then Santa Barbra Botanic Garden horticulturist Carol Bornstein for bringing our attention to this very fine cultivar. Continued propagation of this plant eluded us and we were only able to grow enough to offer it for one year in 2009 but if we could have purchased liners of this nice manzanita in from another nursery to grow on we would have done so.
The information about Arctostaphylos densiflora 'White Lanterns' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |