Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. laevigata

Contra costa manzanita, Contra Costa Manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Contra costa manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in the southern North Coast Ranges (Vaca Mountains) and eastern San Francisco Bay Area (Mount Diablo) in chaparral and rocky outcrops at elevations of 240 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in clustered branches. Growing with bright green, shiny stems and a distinctive growth form, it develops a spreading habit with sparsely hairy twigs. Its leaves are bright green and glossy, creating a smooth, attractive appearance in its rocky habitat. The fruit develops with stones that can be variably fused or free, contributing to the plant's unique reproductive characteristics.

Habitat: Chaparral, rocky outcrops

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: 240-1100 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI (Vaca Mtns), e SnFrB (Mount Diablo).

California counties: Contra Costa, Lake, Yolo, Sonoma

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.