Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia

Del mar manzanita, Del Mar Manzanita, Del Mar manzanita

Arctostaphylos glandulosa — parent species of Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia

Photo: parent species Arctostaphylos glandulosa · Photo by Chez Brungraber

Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia (Del mar manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by distinctly flattened fruit.

Del mar manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in San Diego County in coastal chaparral at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from December to February, this plant produces pink to white urn-shaped flowers in small clusters. Growing with distinctive reddish-brown twigs 1 to 2 meters tall, it forms a dense, spreading shrub with smooth branches. Its leaves are light to dark green with often reddish margins, creating a striking color contrast against the plant's bark. The fruit is a flattened, spherical drupe approximately 6 to 10 millimeters wide, characteristic of the manzanita genus.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key feature is distinctly flattened fruit

Habitat and range

Habitat: Chaparral

Elevation: < 100 m

California counties: San Diego

Outside California: Baja California

Bloom period

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia blooms Dec-Feb.

Conservation status

CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

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 glandulosa subsp. crassifolia native to California?

Yes. Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia bloom?

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia blooms Dec-Feb.

Where in California does Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia grow?

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia occurs in San Diego, at elevations of < 100 m.

What plant family does Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia belong to?

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.

Is Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia rare or endangered?

Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.

Related species

Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.

All Arctostaphylos species · All Ericaceae

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.