Arctostaphylos nevadensis subsp. knightii

Knight's manzanita, Knight's Manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Knight's manzanita is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in rocky outcrops and conifer forests at elevations of 200 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in small clustered groups. Growing to 1 to 2 meters tall with smooth, reddish-brown bark that peels in characteristic manzanita fashion, it develops a distinctive underground burl that allows regeneration after fire. Its leathery, dark green leaves are oval to oblong, 2 to 5 centimeters long, with smooth edges and a thick, waxy surface that helps prevent water loss. The shrub produces small, round berrylike fruits that are typical of the manzanita genus, providing food for wildlife in its mountain habitats.

Habitat: Rocky outcrops, conifer forests

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 200-2600 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoRO.

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