Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family.
Manzanita is a California native shrub found in the central North Coast Ranges in chaparral and conifer forest at elevations of 150 to 600 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces pink to white urn-shaped flowers in small branching clusters. Growing with grayish-green twigs that are glabrous to sparsely glandular-hairy, it forms a distinctive shrub with smooth bark and spreading branches. Its leaves are pale gray-green, glabrous or slightly rough, creating a soft, muted appearance across the plant's structure. The fruit develops with stones that can be variably fused or free, adding to the plant's botanical complexity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 150-600 m
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens blooms Feb-May.
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 manzanita subsp. glaucescens native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens bloom?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens belong to?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens grow in?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. glaucescens grows in Chaparral, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.