Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri
Hooker's manzanita, Hooker's Manzanita, Hooker's manzanita
(c) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri (Hooker's manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by larger erect habit vs prostrate hearstiorum.
Hooker's manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in northern Central Coast and southern San Francisco Bay Area, specifically the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in clusters. Growing as a mounded or erect shrub 0.5 to 1.5 meters tall with distinctive smooth reddish bark, it forms compact clusters in its native habitat. Its leathery leaves are lanceolate to widely elliptic, 2 to 3 centimeters long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide, with short petioles 4 to 8 millimeters in length. Small round fruits 3 to 8 millimeters wide complete the plant's characteristic profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; larger erect habit vs prostrate hearstiorum
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, closed-cone pine forest
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri 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 hookeri subsp. hookeri native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri bloom?
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri grow?
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri occurs in Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri belong to?
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos hookeri subsp. hookeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.