Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana
Eastwood's brittle-leaf manzanita, Eastwood's Brittle-Leaf Manzanita, Eastwood's brittle-leaf manzanita
Photo: parent species Arctostaphylos crustacea · (c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana (Eastwood's brittle-leaf manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Eastwood's brittle-leaf manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in southern Central Coast and Southern Coastal Ranges in northwestern Santa Barbara County, inhabiting chaparral and closed-cone conifer forest at elevations below 650 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pale pink to white flowers in small clusters with distinctive urn-shaped blossoms. Growing as a compact shrub 1 to 2 meters tall with densely hairy twigs and smooth, reddish bark, it develops a sturdy branching structure. Its leathery leaves are smooth and glabrous on the underside, with a distinctive brittle texture that gives the subspecies its name. The shrub forms dense, intricate branching patterns characteristic of manzanita species in coastal California habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, closed-cone conifer forest
Elevation: < 650 m
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana bloom?
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana belong to?
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana grow in?
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana grows in Chaparral, closed-cone conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. insulicola — Island manzanita
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. rosei — Rose's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. subcordata — Santa cruz island manzanita
- Arctostaphylos cruzensis — Arroyo de la cruz manzanita
- Arctostaphylos densiflora — Vine hill manzanita
- Arctostaphylos edmundsii — Little sur manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.