Arctostaphylos gabilanensis
Gabilan mountains manzanita, Gabilan Mountains Manzanita, Gabilan Mountains manzanita, Gabilan Mountains manzanita
(c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis (Gabilan mountains manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by large fruits and clasping lobed leaf bases.
Gabilan mountains manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in northern South Coast Ranges in the Gabilan Range, San Benito, and Monterey counties in open granitic outcrops, chaparral, and Coulter-pine woodland at elevations below 710 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in pendulous panicle clusters. Growing 1 to 5 meters tall with erect branches and twigs sparsely covered in short non-glandular hairs, it forms a distinctive upright shrub. Its gray-green leaves are ovate, 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters long, with lobed bases that clasp the stems and entire flat margins. The fruit is a spherical, glabrous berry 10 to 15 millimeters wide with markedly fused stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinguished by large fruits and clasping lobed leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open granitic outcrops, chaparral, Coulter-pine/chaparral woodland
Elevation: < 710 m
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis blooms Feb-Apr.
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 gabilanensis native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos gabilanensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos gabilanensis bloom?
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos gabilanensis belong to?
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos gabilanensis rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos gabilanensis grow in?
Arctostaphylos gabilanensis grows in Open granitic outcrops, chaparral, Coulter-pine/chaparral woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa — Eastwood manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. adamsii
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia — Del mar manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. cushingiana — Cushing manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. gabrielensis — San gabriel manzanita
- Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. glandulosa
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.