Arctostaphylos mewukka subsp. truei

True's manzanita, True's Manzanita, True's manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

True's manzanita is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native shrub found in southern California Ranges, near Paradise, and northern Sierra Nevada Foothills in chaparral and forest openings at elevations of 290 to 1,350 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white to pink flowers in clusters with buds hidden by appressed, keeled bracts. Growing with a distinctive burl-less form and reaching moderate shrub heights, it develops spreading branches with smooth reddish bark. Its leaves are broadly round to round-ovate, 4 to 7 centimeters wide, with a soft white-glaucous surface and blunt tips. The fruit contains stones that are occasionally partially fused, creating unique seed clusters characteristic of this manzanita subspecies.

Habitat: Chaparral, forest openings

Bloom period: Mar-Apr

Elevation: 290-1350 m

Bioregions: s CaRF, CaRH (near Paradise), n SNF.

California counties: Butte, Plumas, El Dorado, Yuba

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