Plants

Arctostaphylos auriculata ‘Knobcone Point’ is a distinctive cultivar of Mount Diablo manzanita, selected for its compact, mounding form and striking blue-green foliage. This evergreen shrub maintains its juvenile characteristics throughout its life, giving it a unique ornamental value in native and drought-tolerant landscapes. The leaves are nearly round, softly serrated, and fuzzy to the touch, clasping the stems in a dense, attractive pattern. Unlike many other manzanitas, ‘Knobcone Point’ does not flower or fruit, instead focusing its visual appeal on its lush foliage and smooth, reddish-brown bark.

Typically growing 4 to 6 feet tall and spreading 6 to 8 feet wide, this cultivar is ideal for use as a low-maintenance groundcover, slope stabilizer, or focal point in a dry garden. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a variety of well-drained soils, including rocky and sandy substrates. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and requires little supplemental water, making it well suited to xeriscaping and sustainable planting designs.

‘Knobcone Point’ is particularly valuable in native plant gardens, where its tidy form and foliage texture provide year-round structure and contrast. While it does not contribute nectar or fruit to the ecosystem, its dense growth habit offers shelter to birds and beneficial insects. Hardy to about 15°F (USDA Zones 7b–11), it performs well in coastal and inland California gardens and beyond, wherever a resilient, water-wise shrub is needed.