Arctostaphylos otayensis
Otay manzanita, Otay manzanita, Otay manzanita
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos otayensis (Otay manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by southwestern San Diego County endemic.
Otay manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southwestern Puerto Real bioregion on volcanic rock outcrops, chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 280 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in pendulous panicle clusters. Growing as an erect shrub 1 to 3 meters tall with distinctively glandular-hairy twigs, it develops a complex branching structure. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic to ovate, 2 to 3 centimeters long, gray-glaucous with an appressed-tomentose surface and entire margins that become nearly glabrous with age. The fruit is a spherical berry 6 to 8 millimeters wide, sparsely hairy and containing distinctive free or fused stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; southwestern San Diego County endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Volcanic rock outcrops, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 280-1700 m
California counties: San Diego, Orange, Alameda
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos otayensis blooms Jan-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 otayensis native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos otayensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos otayensis bloom?
Arctostaphylos otayensis blooms Jan-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos otayensis grow?
Arctostaphylos otayensis occurs in San Diego, Orange, Alameda, at elevations of 280-1700 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos otayensis belong to?
Arctostaphylos otayensis is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos otayensis rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos otayensis 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.