Arctostaphylos pacifica

Pacific manzanita, Pacific manzanita, Pacific manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Pacific manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in the central coastal region on San Bruno Mountain in sandstone outcrops and chaparral at an elevation of 300 meters. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in small, pendulous racemes. Growing prostrate with distinctive reddish stems that reach 10 to 60 centimeters tall and develop characteristic burls, it forms a low-spreading ground cover. Its leaves are elliptic, 1 to 2 centimeters long, dark green on top and light green underneath, with a wedge-shaped base and serrated edges. The fruit is a spheric, reddish berry approximately 6 to 8 millimeters wide, with stones that may be partially or completely fused.

Habitat: Sandstone outcrops, chaparral

Bloom period: Jan-Mar

Elevation: 300 m

Bioregions: CCo (San Bruno Mtn).

California counties: San Mateo

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