Arctostaphylos pilosula
Santa margarita manzanita, Santa Margarita Manzanita, Santa Margarita manzanita, Santa Margarita manzanita
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Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos pilosula (Santa margarita manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by distinctive long-bristly-hairy twigs.
Santa margarita manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern Central Coast and southern Santa Lucia Ranges near Pismo Beach in chaparral and on shale outcrops at elevations of 30 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from December to March, this plant produces pale pink to white urn-shaped flowers in small clusters with drooping nascent inflorescences. Growing as an erect shrub 1 to 5 meters tall with densely bristly twigs, it develops a distinctive branching structure with prominent woody stems. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic to round-ovate, 1 to 3 centimeters long, dark green to gray-glaucous with wedge-shaped bases and entire margins. The fruit is a depressed-spheric structure 8 to 10 millimeters wide with glabrous stones that may be variably fused or free.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 43 sympatric species; distinctive long-bristly-hairy twigs are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shale outcrops, slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 30-1250 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos pilosula blooms Dec-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 pilosula native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos pilosula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos pilosula bloom?
Arctostaphylos pilosula blooms Dec-Mar.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos pilosula grow?
Arctostaphylos pilosula occurs in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, at elevations of 30-1250 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos pilosula belong to?
Arctostaphylos pilosula is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos pilosula rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos pilosula carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2?.
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.