Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Pine mat manzanita
(c) Laura Camp, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Arctostaphylos nevadensis (Pine mat manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Pine mat manzanita is a California native shrub found in mountain habitats at elevations of 100 to 500 meters. Flowering from late winter to early spring, this plant produces small pink to white urn-shaped flowers in compact clusters. Growing as a low, prostrate shrub spreading 10 to 50 centimeters tall with a burled or mounded form, it creates dense ground-covering mats. Its bright green, shiny leaves are obovate or oblanceolate, 1 to 3 centimeters long with wedge-shaped bases and entire margins. The fruit is a dark brown spherical drupe approximately 6 to 8 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Nevada, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Glenn, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mono, Trinity, Sierra, Humboldt, El Dorado, Fresno, Lake, Plumas, Lassen, Amador, Butte, Alpine, Kern, Shasta, Mariposa, Tehama, Placer, Madera, Mendocino, Modoc, Calaveras, Colusa, Inyo
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 nevadensis native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos nevadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Arctostaphylos nevadensis grow?
Arctostaphylos nevadensis occurs in Nevada, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Glenn, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mono, Trinity and other counties.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos nevadensis belong to?
Arctostaphylos nevadensis is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos nevadensis subsp. knightii — Knight's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos nevadensis subsp. nevadensis — Pine-mat manzanita
- Arctostaphylos nipumu — Nipomo Mesa manzanita
- Arctostaphylos nissenana — Nissenan manzanita
- Arctostaphylos nortensis — Del norte manzanita
- Arctostaphylos nummularia — Glossy leaved 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.