Arctostaphylos obispoensis
Bishop manzanita, Bishop manzanita, Bishop manzanita
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Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Arctostaphylos obispoensis (Bishop manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by large fruits and glaucous-gray leaves.
Bishop manzanita is a California native shrub ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the central Santa Lucia Range in rocky, generally serpentine soils of coastal chaparral and closed-cone forest at elevations of 60 to 950 meters. Flowering from February to March, this plant produces white to pink urn-shaped flowers in pendulous, bell-shaped clusters. Growing as an erect shrub 1 to 4 meters tall with sparsely hairy twigs, it features distinctively glaucous-gray, oblong to lance-ovate leaves 2 to 4.5 centimeters long with rounded or truncate bases. Its leaves are dull gray-green, appressed-canescent when young, becoming glabrous with age, and have entire, flat margins with acute tips. The fruit is a depressed-spheric, glabrous structure 9 to 14 millimeters wide, with stones that may be variably fused or free.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; large fruits and glaucous-gray leaves are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, generally serpentine soils, chaparral, open closed-cone forest near coast
Elevation: 60-950 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Contra Costa
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos obispoensis blooms Feb-Mar.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 obispoensis native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos obispoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos obispoensis bloom?
Arctostaphylos obispoensis blooms Feb-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos obispoensis grow?
Arctostaphylos obispoensis occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Contra Costa, at elevations of 60-950 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos obispoensis belong to?
Arctostaphylos obispoensis is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos obispoensis rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos obispoensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
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.