Arctostaphylos densiflora
Vine hill manzanita, Vine Hill Manzanita, Vine Hill manzanita, Vine Hill manzanita
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Arctostaphylos densiflora (Vine hill manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by small narrow shiny leaves and small fruits.
Vine hill manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges (Vine Hill near Forestville, Sonoma County) in maritime chaparral on marine acid sandy-clay soils at elevations around 100 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces delicate pink to white flowers in compact panicle clusters with pendulous nascent inflorescence. Growing as a mounded to erect shrub reaching approximately 1 meter tall with bright green, shiny twigs sparsely covered in short non-glandular hairs. Its leaves are erect with short 4 to 5 millimeter petioles, featuring elliptic to narrowly lanceolate blades 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, bright green and smooth with entire flat margins and wedge-shaped to obtuse bases. The fruit is a nearly spherical, glabrous structure approximately 5 to 6 millimeters wide with variably fused or free stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinguished by small narrow shiny leaves and small fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marine acid sandy-clay soils, maritime chaparral
Elevation: +- 100 m.
California counties: Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Monterey, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Napa, Marin, San Francisco, Del Norte
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos densiflora blooms Mar-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 densiflora native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos densiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos densiflora bloom?
Arctostaphylos densiflora blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos densiflora grow?
Arctostaphylos densiflora occurs in Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Monterey, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Napa and other counties, at elevations of +- 100 m..
What plant family does Arctostaphylos densiflora belong to?
Arctostaphylos densiflora is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos densiflora rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos densiflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos edmundsii — Little sur manzanita
- Arctostaphylos franciscana — Franciscan manzanita
- Arctostaphylos gabilanensis — Gabilan mountains manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa — Eastwood manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. adamsii
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia — Del mar 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.