Arctostaphylos columbiana
Columbia manzanita, Columbia Manzanita
(c) Noah Elhardt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Arctostaphylos columbiana (Columbia manzanita) is a native California shrub / tree in the Ericaceae family, recognized by tree habit, persistent green bracts, and papillate scabrous leaves.
Columbia manzanita is a California native shrub found in northern coastal regions, western Klamath Ranges, and northern coastal Redwood forests in rocky coastal uplands and maritime chaparral at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in pendulous, branched clusters. Growing 1 to 5 meters tall with erect stems covered in white, woolly hairs, it develops a distinctive architectural form with stiff, spreading branches. Its leaves are dark green, lanceolate to ovate, 4 to 6 centimeters long with wedge-shaped bases and acute tips, presenting a leathery texture with sparse glandular hairs. The fruit is a depressed spherical berry 8 to 11 millimeters wide, with stones that may be variably fused or separate.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; distinguished by tree habit, persistent green bracts, and papillate scabrous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky coastal uplands, maritime chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, San Mateo, Calaveras, Trinity, Marin, Napa, Lake
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos columbiana 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 columbiana native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos columbiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos columbiana bloom?
Arctostaphylos columbiana blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos columbiana grow?
Arctostaphylos columbiana occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, San Mateo, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos columbiana belong to?
Arctostaphylos columbiana is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos columbiana grow in?
Arctostaphylos columbiana grows in Rocky coastal uplands, maritime chaparral, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. insulicola — Island 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.