Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by glandular hairs and narrow inflorescence axis.
Wieslander's manzanita is a native shrub found in northern California's Shasta and Tehama counties within chaparral and conifer forest ecosystems at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers clustered in small dense groups. Growing with glandular-hairy twigs and branches that form a distinctive rounded shape, the shrub reaches heights of approximately 1 to 3 meters. Its dull green leaves are scabrous and glandular-hairy, providing a rough textural appearance that helps distinguish this distinctive manzanita subspecies. The smooth, glabrous fruit contains stones that may be partially or completely fused, a unique characteristic of this particular manzanita variety.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key features are glandular hairs and narrow inflorescence axis
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: 300-1500 m
California counties: Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Colusa, Mendocino
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi 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. wieslanderi native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi bloom?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi grow?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi occurs in Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Colusa, Mendocino, at elevations of 300-1500 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi belong to?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi grow in?
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. wieslanderi grows in Chaparral, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos mewukka — Indian manzanita
- Arctostaphylos mewukka subsp. mewukka
- Arctostaphylos mewukka subsp. truei — True's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montana — Mt. tamalpais manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montana subsp. montana — Mount tamalpais manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montana subsp. ravenii — Presidio manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.