Arctostaphylos edmundsii
Little sur manzanita, Little Sur Manzanita, Little Sur manzanita, Little Sur manzanita
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos edmundsii (Little sur manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit, small shiny leaves, and glabrous fruits.
Little sur manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in central Coast Ranges in northwestern Monterey County on sandy terraces and maritime chaparral at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from November to December, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small panicles. Growing prostrate to mounded, with distinctive dark green and shiny elliptic leaves 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, it spreads low across the landscape with stems reaching 0.2 to 1.5 meters wide. Its leaves are dark green, elliptic to round-ovate, with truncate bases and abruptly soft-pointed tips, growing in a spreading pattern. The fruit is a nearly spherical berry approximately 6 to 8 millimeters wide, with stones that may be variably fused or free.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; distinguished by prostrate habit, small shiny leaves, and glabrous fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy terraces, bluffs, maritime chaparral
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: San Mateo, Monterey, Orange, San Francisco
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos edmundsii blooms Nov-Dec.
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 edmundsii native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos edmundsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos edmundsii bloom?
Arctostaphylos edmundsii blooms Nov-Dec.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos edmundsii grow?
Arctostaphylos edmundsii occurs in San Mateo, Monterey, Orange, San Francisco, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos edmundsii belong to?
Arctostaphylos edmundsii is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos edmundsii rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos edmundsii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos franciscana — Franciscan manzanita
- Arctostaphylos gabilanensis — Gabilan mountains manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa — Eastwood manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. adamsii
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia — Del mar manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. cushingiana — Cushing 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.