Description

Baby bear is a chance hybrid that was discovered on the Las Pilitas Nursery site in Santa Margarita, CA, by Bert Wilson. It is reported to involve Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Sentinel’ and Arctostaphylos bakeri Louis Edmunds. It grows as a rounded shrub to about eight feet tall and wide with purple bark (think Louis Edmunds) with densely spaced leaves similar to A. densiflora and large clusters of pink flowers (think Sentinel). Although both parent plants come from areas of high rainfall (over thirty inches), baby bear is quite drought tolerant. As with all manzanitas, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic provides optimal growing conditions for baby bear.