Arctostaphylos nissenana
Nissenan manzanita, Nissenan Manzanita, Nissenan manzanita, Nissenan manzanita
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos nissenana (Nissenan manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by splitting cylindrical fruits are unique among manzanitas.
Nissenan manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in northern Sierra Nevada and central Sierra Nevada foothill regions in Placer, El Dorado, and Tuolumne counties, inhabiting open, rocky shale ridges, chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 450 to 1,650 meters. Flowering from February to March, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in small, pendulous racemes. Growing as an erect shrub 20 to 150 centimeters tall with distinctive gray, shredding bark and canescent (soft, grayish-white hairy) twigs, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are small, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, measuring 1 to 2 centimeters long, with a glaucous gray surface, entire margins, and a wedge-shaped to rounded base. The mature fruit is a small, cylindric capsule approximately 3 to 4 millimeters wide that splits open when ripe.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; splitting cylindrical fruits are unique among manzanitas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky shale ridges, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 450-1650 m
California counties: El Dorado, Tuolumne, Placer
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos nissenana blooms Feb-Mar.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 nissenana native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos nissenana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos nissenana bloom?
Arctostaphylos nissenana blooms Feb-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos nissenana grow?
Arctostaphylos nissenana occurs in El Dorado, Tuolumne, Placer, at elevations of 450-1650 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos nissenana belong to?
Arctostaphylos nissenana is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos nissenana rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos nissenana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.