A Saturday In Portland: My Mystery Manzanita Meets it's Maker at Xera

At least six years ago, I bought an Arctostaphylos at Jungle Fever with a tag from Xera Plants that said something about color in the winter when we need it most.  The tag got lost and I'd no idea which Manzanita this was.

But since the first year it was planted, I've been grateful for the cream and pink leaves at the tops of many of the branches.

I've posted pictures of this one before and searched the web and couldn't find an Arctostaphylos like it.

During our visit to Portland on Saturday, I stopped by Xera's  two-year-old retail space and found some great plants.  (three new Hellebores: 'Cherry Blossom,' 'Apricot Blush', and 'Golden Sunrise' a Grevillea miqueliana 'Sunset' with the sweetest round, wavy, furry foliage and gorgeous blooms, and Cynara baetica ssp. moroccana.)  So interested in the plants was I that few pictures were taken.

Anyway, I decided to see if they had any more of these Manzanitas with the cool foliage.  Greg, one of the owners was a bit perplexed by my description but asked me to send pictures for identification.

Part of Greg's response follows:
Not sure if the bright coloration is viral-type variegation or cultural, but the plant looks like a selection of Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, likely 'Warren Roberts' or 'Lester Rowntree'.....we get more copper color on the new growth rather than the cream......but nature works wonders sometimes and gives us surprises!  Definitely distinct from the normal new growth on A. pajaroensis.

I'll be taking cuttings in the fall for Xera to propagate.  Won't it be cool if  the cuttings continue this trait after propagation?  This is plant coloration that I can get behind (unlike yesterday's painted succulents!)

Happy Weekend!