Arctostaphylos rudis

Shag Bark Manzanita, Arctostaphylos rudis, is an evergreen shrub a foot and a half or so tall and 3 feet wide. It does best in coastal sand and sun.

Shag Bark Manzanita  is a great choice for Nipomo, Santa Maria and Lompoc sand, where it is locally native. Use as a dark green ground cover. I've seen it very formal looking in its element. It has thrived where other plants have failed. Arctosphylos rudis is a rare plant, only found along the central coast. The average rainfall is about 10" where it grows, fog drip raises the total to maybe 25 ". That is 10 " of rain in sandy soil so this is one tough plant. Mojave gets around 5"...just for comparison.  Native on old sand dunes, along  the central coast, in the same area as Arctostaphylos purissima and has the same surprising hardiness. It has survived here where Arctostaphylos 'Dr Hurd' froze out. 

Both A. rudis and A. purissima occur with Quercus agrifolia, Adenostoma, Salvia mellifera and  Ceanothus impressus impressus, and Ceanothus impressus nipomosus.