Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis
Sonoma canescent manzanita, Sonoma Canescent Manzanita
(c) 2012 John Game, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis (Sonoma canescent manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by subsp. canescens by glandular pubescence.
Sonoma canescent manzanita is a California native shrub found in western Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and western San Francisco Bay Area from Mount Tamalpais to Santa Cruz Mountains in chaparral and open forests at elevations of 60 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in compact clusters that emerge from glandular-hairy branches. Growing as a multi-stemmed shrub 1 to 3 meters tall with distinctively smooth, reddish-brown bark that peels with age, it develops a complex branching structure. Its leaves are oval to rounded, leathery and gray-green, typically 2 to 5 centimeters long with a dense, soft canescent surface that gives the plant its distinctive appearance. The fruit develops as a nearly glabrous, rounded drupe that matures from green to brown as the season progresses.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; distinguished from subsp. canescens by glandular pubescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, open forests
Elevation: 60-1700 m
California counties: Colusa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Tehama, Glenn, Trinity, Contra Costa, Napa
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis blooms Mar-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. sonomensis native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis bloom?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis grow?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis occurs in Colusa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Tehama, Glenn, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 60-1700 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis belong to?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis grow in?
Arctostaphylos canescens subsp. sonomensis grows in Chaparral, open forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crustacea
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.