Arctostaphylos montana
Mt. tamalpais manzanita
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos montana (Mt. tamalpais manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Mt. tamalpais manzanita is a California native shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area and central coastal ranges in chaparral and woodland habitats. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in small pendant clusters. Growing with erect branches 1 to 3 meters tall, it develops from a distinctive underground burl that allows resprouting after fire. Its leaves are dark green and shiny, with rounded to wedge-shaped bases, growing 2 to 6 centimeters long and remaining entire and flat along the margins. The fruit is a small, spherical berry with variably fused stone structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Marin, Humboldt, Napa
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 montana native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos montana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Arctostaphylos montana grow?
Arctostaphylos montana occurs in Marin, Humboldt, Napa.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos montana belong to?
Arctostaphylos montana is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos montana subsp. montana — Mount tamalpais manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montana subsp. ravenii — Presidio manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montaraensis — Montara manzanita
- Arctostaphylos montereyensis — Toro manzanita
- Arctostaphylos morroensis — Morro manzanita
- Arctostaphylos myrtifolia — Ione manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.