Arctostaphylos hooveri
Hoover's manzanita, Hoover's manzanita, Hoover's manzanita
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Arctostaphylos hooveri (Hoover's manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by tall stature, boat-shaped sticky leaves, and large sticky fruits diagnostic.
Hoover's manzanita is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native shrub found in the Santa Lucia Range in rocky slopes, upland chaparral, and open ponderosa-pine forest near the coast at elevations of 450 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pink to white urn-shaped flowers in pendant clusters with glandular-hairy branches. Growing as a small shrub or tree 2 to 8 meters tall with distinctively glandular-hairy twigs, it develops a complex branching structure. Its leaves are oblong to ovate, 4 to 6 centimeters long, glaucous and sticky, with a boat-shaped profile and entire margins that become smoother with age. The fruit is a sticky, depressed-spheric structure 10 to 15 millimeters wide, covered in glandular hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; tall stature, boat-shaped sticky leaves, and large sticky fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, upland chaparral, open ponderosa-pine forest near coast
Elevation: 450-1100 m
California counties: Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos hooveri blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 hooveri native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos hooveri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos hooveri bloom?
Arctostaphylos hooveri blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos hooveri grow?
Arctostaphylos hooveri occurs in Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of 450-1100 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos hooveri belong to?
Arctostaphylos hooveri is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos hooveri rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos hooveri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
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.