Arctostaphylos parryana subsp. desertica

Desert manzanita, Desert Manzanita

Family: Ericaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Desert manzanita is a native shrub found in the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, and San Ysidro Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges in chaparral at elevations of 1,200 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small clusters characteristic of manzanitas. Growing erect and forming a distinctive burled structure, it reaches 1 to 2 meters tall with a robust, woody framework. Its leaves are notably gray-glaucous, providing a distinctive silvery-blue appearance that helps the plant blend into its desert mountain habitat. The shrub's complex branching and unique coloration make it a striking element of its chaparral ecosystem.

Habitat: Chaparral

Bloom period: Jan-Mar

Elevation: 1200-2300 m

Bioregions: PR (San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, San Ysidro mtns).

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