California Manzanita

Description:

For us native Californians, the Manzanitas of our mountains are very special. Native to the the West Coast of North America, they are classical beauties of evergreen leaves and bright red wood. They are often called the driftwood of the mountains for the beautiful twisted shapes of their branches. I was surprised to learn that there are about 55 species in California and another 11 in Oregon (http://dangergarden.blogspot.mx/2012/03/...). All of the plants in the foreground of the last picture are Manzanitas. See the references for pictures of the white flowers.

Habitat:

Along a hiking trail to Cathedral Peak, edge of the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara, California.

Notes:

They are usually shrub-like, but can be large enough to be called trees.