Arctostaphylos pumila
Sandmat manzanita, Sandmat Manzanita, sandmat manzanita, sandmat manzanita
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos pumila (Sandmat manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by distinctive prostrate habit and small cupped leaves.
Sandmat manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in central Coast Ranges around Monterey Bay in sandy soils of chaparral and oak woodland at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small, pendulous racemes with distinctive reddish-tinged bracts. Growing prostrate to mounded, typically 10 to 100 centimeters tall with persistent reddish stems that slightly shred with age, it forms a low, spreading ground cover. Its leaves are narrowly obovate, dark green and somewhat shiny, with wedge-shaped bases and obtuse tips, measuring 1 to 2 centimeters long and featuring a distinctive cupped margin tinged with red. The fruit is a small spherical drupe approximately 5 to 6 millimeters wide, sparsely hairy to nearly smooth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; distinctive prostrate habit and small cupped leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils in chaparral, oak woodland
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Orange
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos pumila blooms Feb-Apr.
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 pumila native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos pumila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos pumila bloom?
Arctostaphylos pumila blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos pumila grow?
Arctostaphylos pumila occurs in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Orange, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos pumila belong to?
Arctostaphylos pumila is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos pumila rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos pumila carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Arctostaphylos refugioensis — Refugio manzanita
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.