Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hearstiorum

Hearsts' manzanita, Hearsts' Manzanita, Hearsts' manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Hearsts' manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern central coastal California, specifically in northern San Luis Obispo County's coastal prairie at elevations of 10 to 50 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small clusters characteristic of manzanitas. Growing as a low, prostrate shrub typically 10 to 20 centimeters tall, it spreads close to the ground with distinctive smooth reddish bark. Its leaves are small and approximately elliptical, measuring 8 to 12 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide, with short petioles connecting them to slender branches. The fruit is a small, rounded drupe approximately 3 to 4 millimeters wide, typical of the manzanita genus.

Habitat: Coastal prairie

Bloom period: Feb-Apr

Elevation: 10-50 m

Bioregions: s CCo (n San Luis Obispo Co.).

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.