Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea is a native California shrub / tree in the Ericaceae family, recognized by unique late-forming inflorescences and sticky glandular surfaces.
Pringle's manzanita is a California native shrub found in the San Bernardino Mountains and Peninsular Ranges on rocky slopes and in open conifer forests at elevations of 530 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pale pink to white flowers in small, pendulous racemes with distinctive deep pink bracts. Growing 1 to 5 meters tall with erect stems densely covered in short glandular hairs, it forms a distinctive shrub with gray-glaucous leaves. Its leaves are ovate to nearly round, 2 to 5 centimeters long, with a rounded or truncate base and an abruptly soft-pointed tip, creating a distinctive gray-green appearance. The fruit is a sticky, spherical drupe 6 to 12 millimeters wide, covered in glandular hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; unique late-forming inflorescences and sticky glandular surfaces
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, open conifer forest
Elevation: 530-2400 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Mendocino
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea blooms Feb-Apr.
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 pringlei subsp. drupacea native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea bloom?
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea grow?
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Mendocino, at elevations of 530-2400 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea belong to?
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea grow in?
Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea grows in Rocky slopes, open conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos pumila — Sandmat manzanita
- Arctostaphylos pungens — Mexican manzanita
- Arctostaphylos purissima — La purisima manzanita
- Arctostaphylos purissima subsp. globosa — Globose manzanita
- Arctostaphylos purissima subsp. purissima — La purisima manzanita
- Arctostaphylos rainbowensis — Rainbow manzanita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.