Arctostaphylos catalinae
Santa catalina island manzanita, Santa Catalina Island manzanita, Santa Catalina Island manzanita
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos catalinae (Santa catalina island manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by tree habit, serrate leaf margins, and glandular-bristly scabrous leaves.
Santa catalina island manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern Channel Islands on Santa Catalina Island in volcanic outcrops and maritime chaparral at elevations of 100 to 600 meters. Flowering from December to February, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in dense panicles with pendulous nascent inflorescences. Growing as an erect shrub two to five meters tall with distinctively gnarled branches densely covered in white glandular and non-glandular hairs, it forms a compact and textured silhouette. Its leaves are lance-ovate to elliptic, two to five centimeters long, with a green-glaucous color, truncate base, and entire to slightly serrate margins that feel scabrous and glandular-bristly to the touch. The fruit is a spherical, white-hairy drupe approximately eight to fifteen millimeters wide with variably fused stone structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinguished by tree habit, serrate leaf margins, and glandular-bristly scabrous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Volcanic outcrops, ridges, maritime chaparral
Elevation: 100-600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos catalinae blooms Dec-Feb.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 catalinae native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos catalinae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos catalinae bloom?
Arctostaphylos catalinae blooms Dec-Feb.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos catalinae grow?
Arctostaphylos catalinae occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, at elevations of 100-600 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos catalinae belong to?
Arctostaphylos catalinae is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos catalinae rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos catalinae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana — Eastwood's brittle-leaf 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.