Arctostaphylos auriculata
Mount diablo manzanita, Mt. Diablo manzanita, Mt. Diablo manzanita
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Arctostaphylos auriculata (Mount diablo manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by white-gray canescent leaves with clasping lobed base.
Mount diablo manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in eastern San Francisco Bay region around Mount Diablo and vicinity in sandstone upland coastal chaparral at elevations of 150 to 650 meters. Flowering from February to March, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small panicle clusters with pendulous nascent inflorescence axes. Growing erect and robust, the shrub reaches 1 to 4.5 meters tall with white-tomentose twigs and distinctively textured branches. Its leaves are small and distinctive, with oblong to round-ovate blades 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters long, white-gray in color, featuring lobed bases that clasp the stem and entire flat margins. The fruit is a depressed spherical structure 5 to 10 millimeters wide, covered in dense short white hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinguished by white-gray canescent leaves with clasping lobed base
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandstone, upland chaparral near coast
Elevation: 150-650 m
California counties: Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos auriculata blooms Feb-Mar.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Arbutus: Arctostaphylos fruits are smooth and mealy; Arbutus fruits are bumpy and juicy.; vs Rhus: Arctostaphylos has simple evergreen leaves; Rhus has compound deciduous leaves.; vs Quercus: Arctostaphylos has urn-shaped flowers and berry-like fruits; Quercus has catkins and acorns.; vs Xylococcus: Arctostaphylos leaves are flat; Xylococcus leaves have margins rolled tightly under.; vs Heteromeles: Arctostaphylos has urn-shaped flowers; Heteromeles has flat white flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arctostaphylos auriculata native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos auriculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos auriculata bloom?
Arctostaphylos auriculata blooms Feb-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos auriculata grow?
Arctostaphylos auriculata occurs in Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, at elevations of 150-650 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos auriculata belong to?
Arctostaphylos auriculata is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos auriculata rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos auriculata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos bakeri — Baker's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos bakeri subsp. bakeri — Baker's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos bakeri subsp. sublaevis — The cedars manzanita
- Arctostaphylos canescens — Hoary manzanita
- Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens — Hoary manzanita
- Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis — Sonoma canescent manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.