Arctostaphylos virgata
Marin manzanita, Marin Manzanita, Marin manzanita, Marin manzanita
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Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Arctostaphylos virgata (Marin manzanita) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by persistent leaf-like bracts and glandular-hairy fruits.
Marin manzanita is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in northern Central Coast and northwestern San Francisco Bay regions of Marin County in sandstone and granite outcrops within chaparral and conifer forest at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from December to February, this plant produces pale pink to white flowers in pendulous, glandular-hairy racemes. Growing erect to 1 to 5 meters tall with bright green, slightly shiny branches that are short- and long-glandular-hairy, it forms a distinctive upright shape. Its leaves are ascending and overlapped, narrowly oblong-ovate to lance-oblong, 3 to 5 centimeters long, with truncate to slightly lobed bases and entire, flat margins. The fruit is a sticky, depressed-spheric structure 6 to 8 millimeters wide, covered in glandular hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; persistent leaf-like bracts and glandular-hairy fruits are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandstone, granite outcrops in chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Marin
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos virgata blooms Dec-Feb.
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 virgata native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos virgata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos virgata bloom?
Arctostaphylos virgata blooms Dec-Feb.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos virgata grow?
Arctostaphylos virgata occurs in Marin, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos virgata belong to?
Arctostaphylos virgata is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
Is Arctostaphylos virgata rare or endangered?
Arctostaphylos virgata 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.