Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens
Hoary manzanita, Hoary Manzanita
(c) 2012 John Game, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens (Hoary manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by canescent leaves and non-glandular pubescence.
Hoary manzanita is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, and western San Francisco Bay Area, including Mount Tamalpais and Santa Cruz Mountains, in chaparral and open forest at elevations of 200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in clusters emerging from softly hairy branches. Growing as a dense shrub 1 to 3 meters tall with distinctively smooth, reddish bark that peels with age, it develops short, soft-textured twigs covered in fine white hairs. Its leathery, oval to lance-shaped leaves are 2 to 5 centimeters long, dark green above and lighter underneath, with smooth margins and a slightly rolled edge. The fruit develops as a smooth, globe-shaped drupe that matures from green to brown, characteristic of the manzanita genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species; distinguished by canescent leaves and non-glandular pubescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, open forest
Elevation: 200-2000 m
California counties: Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Lake, Los Angeles, Glenn, Colusa, Mendocino, Marin, Del Norte, Monterey, Humboldt, Tehama, Shasta, San Mateo
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens blooms Jan-May.
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 canescens subsp. canescens native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens bloom?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens grow?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens occurs in Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Lake, Los Angeles, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 200-2000 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens belong to?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens grow in?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. canescens grows in Chaparral, open forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis — Sonoma canescent manzanita
- Arctostaphylos catalinae — Santa catalina island manzanita
- Arctostaphylos columbiana — Columbia manzanita
- Arctostaphylos confertiflora — Santa rosa island manzanita
- Arctostaphylos crustacea — Brittle leaf manzanita
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crinita — Crinite manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.