Howard McMinn Manzanita

Howard McMinn Manzanita

5 Gallon
$52.90
Skip to product information
Howard McMinn Manzanita
1/7

Howard McMinn Manzanita

Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'

A compact, adaptable manzanita for a profuse display of pink flowers, ideal for hedging and beginner native gardeners.

$52.90
Size

24-hour Money-back Guarantee

Free Delivery Over $199

+1 650-241-8858 (SMS ok)

coco-plant

Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

Howard McMinn Manzanita is one of the most popular and garden-adaptable manzanitas, prized for its dense, rounded form, profuse flowering, and tolerance for a wider range of soils. It forms a neat, compact mound of rich green foliage. In late winter to early spring, it is covered in clusters of light pink, urn-shaped flowers, followed by small red berries. Its reliability, manageable size, and exceptional wildlife value have made it a cornerstone of California native and water-wise gardens.

  • Profuse Pink Spring Blooms: Blanketed in showy clusters of pale pink flowers from late winter into spring, attracting hummingbirds and bees.

  • Dense, Rounded & Compact: Maintains a very neat, mounded habit without pruning, typically reaching 4-6 feet tall and wide.

  • Garden-Adaptable: Tolerates clay soils and occasional summer water better than many other manzanitas, making it more forgiving for gardeners.

  • Excellent for Hedging & Mass Planting: Its dense growth makes it perfect for informal hedges, screens, or mass plantings.

  • Low Maintenance & Drought Tolerant: Requires little care once established and is highly resistant to pests and diseases.

Knowing how we measure the size?

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

  • A larger gallon size generally means:

    • A more established root system

    • A sturdier plant

    • Faster visual impact after planting

  • Example:

    • 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity

    • 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.


🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

  • Commonly used for:

    • Ornamental trees

    • Feature plants

    • Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.

  • Why choose Multi:

    • Fuller, more sculptural appearance

    • Strong visual presence even at younger ages

    • Popular for design-focused landscapes


🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

  • Commonly used for:

    • Shade trees

    • Street trees

    • Orchard and structural plantings

  • Why choose Stand:

    • Clean, classic tree form

    • Easier clearance for walkways and lawns

    • Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity


🌿 Choosing the Right Size

  • If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form

  • If you want long-term structure → Stand form

  • If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Quick facts
  • Features:Foliage: Small, dense, elliptical leaves with a leathery texture; deep glossy green above, paler beneath,Flowers: Delicate, urn-shaped pink blossoms clustered along stems,Bark: Striking smooth red-brown bark that peels with age,Habit: Mounding evergreen shrub with gracefully arching branches
  • Mature Height: 6-10 ft
  • Mature Width: 6-10 ft
  • Growth Rate: Slow
  • Light Needs: Full sun to light shade
  • Key Advantages:Exceptional drought tolerance once established,Year-round visual interest (flowers, foliage, and bark),Adaptable to poor, rocky soils,Deer resistant and fire-resistant,Supports native pollinators
  • Landscape Uses:Native plant gardens,Drought-tolerant hedges,Wildlife gardens (birds, butterflies, hummingbirds),Erosion control on slopes,Specimen planting
  • Special Care:Pruning: Minimal; only to shape when young,Soil: Well-drained, acidic to neutral pH,Water: Deep but infrequent watering until established,Fertilizer: None needed
  • Seasonal Interest:Flowers: Winter to early spring,Foliage: Evergreen,Bark: Year-round appeal
FAQs

Q: How much water does it need once established?
A: In coastal areas, it can thrive on rainfall alone. Inland, it benefits from deep, infrequent summer watering (once a month or less) to look its best, but it is highly drought-tolerant. Overwatering is the main cause of failure.

Q: Is it suitable for a small garden?
A: Yes, it is one of the best manzanitas for smaller residential gardens due to its compact, predictable size and non-aggressive roots.

Browse online or get recommendations

Shop by collection, or message us with photos and measurements of your space for tailored suggestions.

Place your order & schedule delivery

Choose your trees and preferred delivery window. Most Bay Area orders are delivered within about 10 business days, depending on routing and weather.

We deliver carefully to your property

Our drivers are trained to handle living plants, not just boxes. For many trees, we can set them in place near the planting site.

Grow with our ongoing support

You’ll receive basic care guidelines, and you can always reach out if you’re unsure about watering, fertilizing, or pruning.

Discover More from Victory Nursery

Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs in Bay Area garden border

Evergreen Shrubs

Flowering Shrubs
Flowering shrubs are the backbone

Flowering Shrubs

Fragrant Flowering
Fragrant Flowering

Fragrant Flowering

Manzanita Shrubs
Manzanita branch with smooth red bark and evergreen leaves

Manzanita Shrubs

Mediterranean Garden
Low water landscape plants with lavender and evergreen shrubs in a sunny yard

Mediterranean Garden

More Shrubs
a curated overflow collection that brings together additional shrub categories

More Shrubs

Shade-Friendly Garden
Shade-Friendly Garden

Shade-Friendly Garden

Shrubs
Assorted evergreen and flowering shrubs forming a layered, year-round foundation planting in a Bay Area garden

Shrubs

Tall Shrubs
Tall shrubs over 5 feet for privacy screening

Tall Shrubs

Related Picks from Victory Nursery

What brings you to Victory Nursery today?

Choose the path that best fits what you’re working on right now.

Instant Privacy Trees
Instant privacy trees for Bay Area homes—evergreen screening trees for fast backyard privacy and fence-line coverage

Tall, fast-impact trees for immediate screening along fences and property lines.

Instant Privacy Trees

Fruit Trees
pomegranate fruit tree for home garden in the San Francisco Bay Area from victory nursery

Citrus, stone fruits, berries, and more — picked for California’s climate.

Fruit Trees

Shade-Friendly Garden
Shade-Friendly Garden

Plants that stay happy in courtyards, side yards, and softer coastal light.

Shade-Friendly Garden

Garden Services
ree planting service in a Bay Area backyard with proper staking and mulch ring

Prefer to talk through your space? Our team can help you plan and source everything.

Garden Services

Garden services to match your plants

Prefer not to do the heavy lifting? Our field team can help with key projects across the Bay Area.

Planting Service

Planting Service

Expert planting for healthy, long-lasting plant growth

Planting Service

Crane Rental Services

Crane Rental Services

Bay Area crane rental with certified operators—planned picks, safe lifts, and precise placement for heavy or hard-to-access installs.

Crane Rental Services

Garden Design Service

Garden Design Service

Lightweight garden design, no hardscape.

Garden Design Service

Pruning & Shaping Service

Pruning & Shaping Service

Two gardeners on site to prune, shape, and tidy your existing trees and shrubs. Perfect for overgrown hedges, view windows, and seasonal refreshes.

Pruning & Shaping Service