Arctostaphylos imbricata
San bruno mountain manzanita, San Bruno Mountain Manzanita, San Bruno Mountain manzanita, San Bruno Mountain manzanita
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Arctostaphylos imbricata (San bruno mountain manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit, overlapping clasping leaves diagnostic.
San bruno mountain manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in the Central Coast bioregion on San Bruno Mountain in sandstone outcrops and chaparral at elevations of 200 to 400 meters. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces pink to white flowers in small, pendulous panicles. Growing as a low, prostrate shrub 10 to 100 centimeters tall with densely glandular-hairy twigs, it forms a distinctive ground-hugging form. Its leaves are overlapping, round to round-ovate, light green, 2.5 to 4 centimeters long with lobed bases that clasp the stem and entire, flat margins. The fruit is a sticky, glandular-hairy drupe 6 to 7 millimeters wide with variably fused stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; prostrate habit, overlapping clasping leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandstone outcrops, chaparral
Elevation: 200-400 m
California counties: San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Francisco
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos imbricata blooms Jan-Mar.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 imbricata native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos imbricata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos imbricata bloom?
Arctostaphylos imbricata blooms Jan-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos imbricata grow?
Arctostaphylos imbricata occurs in San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Francisco, at elevations of 200-400 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos imbricata belong to?
Arctostaphylos imbricata is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos imbricata rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos imbricata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
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.