Plants

Arctostaphylos bakeri ‘Louis Edmonds’ is a standout selection of Baker’s manzanita, originating from Sonoma County, California. This medium-sized, evergreen shrub is highly regarded for its ornamental qualities and adaptability in low-water landscapes. It forms an upright, rounded habit typically reaching 5 to 7 feet tall and wide, with the potential to grow larger in ideal conditions. Its foliage is an eye-catching gray-green, sometimes tinged with bluish tones, providing a soft, silvery backdrop throughout the year.

One of the most attractive features of ‘Louis Edmonds’ is its smooth, dark red bark, which peels with age to reveal a striking contrast against the muted foliage. In late winter to early spring, clusters of pale pink to white, urn-shaped flowers appear, offering early-season nectar for hummingbirds and native pollinators. These are followed by small, reddish fruits that provide additional interest and benefit wildlife.

This cultivar is well suited for full sun to light shade and thrives in well-draining soils, including sandy, rocky, or clay-loam types. Like most manzanitas, it is drought-tolerant once established and requires little to no supplemental irrigation, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, native plantings, and habitat restoration.  Hardy to USDA zone 7.