Arctostaphylos malloryi
Mallory's manzanita, Mallory's manzanita, Mallory's manzanita
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Arctostaphylos malloryi (Mallory's manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by volcanic soil habitat and canescent to tomentose leaves.
Mallory's manzanita is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges and northern interior Coast Ranges in Sonoma, Colusa, Shasta, and Trinity counties, growing in volcanic soils within interior chaparral at elevations of 650 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces light pink to white flowers in pendulous, glandular-hairy panicles. Growing as an erect shrub 1 to 3 meters tall with distinctively grayish-white twigs, it forms a dense, upright structure with smooth, reddish bark. Its leaves are rounded to ovate, 2 to 3 centimeters long, glaucous and white-tomentose when young, becoming glabrous with age, with a rounded or truncate base and entire margins. The fruit is a depressed-spheric drupe 7 to 9 millimeters wide, with stones that may be variably fused or free.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; volcanic soil habitat and canescent to tomentose leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Volcanic soils, interior chaparral
Elevation: 650-1200 m
California counties: Shasta, Colusa, Mendocino, Trinity
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos malloryi 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 malloryi native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos malloryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos malloryi bloom?
Arctostaphylos malloryi blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos malloryi grow?
Arctostaphylos malloryi occurs in Shasta, Colusa, Mendocino, Trinity, at elevations of 650-1200 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos malloryi belong to?
Arctostaphylos malloryi is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos malloryi rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos malloryi 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.