Vine hill manzanita (Arctostaphylos densiflora) is a very rare species of manzanita, endemic to Sonoma County, where it is known from only one extant population of 20 to 30 individuals. These last wild members of the species are on land near Sebastopol that is owned and protected by the California Native Plant Society. This is a small evergreen shrub that grows fast to about 3 feet or less, although cultivars may get taller. It is ideal for limited spaces.
Vine hill manzanita forms low, spreading clumps, as stems may root where they are in constant contact with soil. The foliage is a beautiful green, the bark smooth and red, and is a profuse bloomer with Clusters of pink flowers in winter stand out at the end of the stems and the foliage frames each cluster.
Vine hill manzanita tolerates almost any soil type. It prefers sun in coastal sites; sun or part shade in inland sites and takes low to very low water.
The flowers attract hummingbirds. Other birds are attracted to the fruit and seeds, and the local habitat is mostly chaparral on sandy shale soils. Vine hill manzanita is the origin of several popular cultivars including 'Sentinel' and 'Howard McMinn.'