Arctostaphylos glauca
Big berry manzanita
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Arctostaphylos glauca (Big berry manzanita) is a native California shrub / tree in the Ericaceae family, recognized by large size, glaucous leaves, and large fruits diagnostic.
Big berry manzanita is a California native shrub found in the Tehama, San Francisco Bay, southern Coastal Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and southwestern Desert Mountains in rocky slopes, chaparral, and woodland at elevations below 2,200 meters. Flowering from December to March, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in pendulous, branched clusters. Growing 1 to 8 meters tall with an erect form, it develops distinctive smooth, reddish-brown bark that peels with age. Its leaves are thick and leathery, 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, oblong-ovate with a white-glaucous surface, rounded base, and entire margins. The fruit is a sticky, spherical berry 10 to 15 millimeters wide with markedly fused stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; large size, glaucous leaves, and large fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, Contra Costa, Riverside, Monterey, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Imperial, Alameda, Tulare, Orange, Amador, Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, San Francisco, Tehama
Outside California: northwestern Baja California
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos glauca blooms Dec-Mar.
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 glauca native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos glauca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos glauca bloom?
Arctostaphylos glauca blooms Dec-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos glauca grow?
Arctostaphylos glauca occurs in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, Contra Costa, Riverside, Monterey, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos glauca belong to?
Arctostaphylos glauca is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos glauca grow in?
Arctostaphylos glauca grows in Rocky slopes, chaparral, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.