Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella
Photo: parent species Arctostaphylos viscida · (c) John Hibbard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella is a native California shrub / tree in the Ericaceae family, recognized by glabrous leaves and twigs vs. hairy in other subspecies, but sticky-glandular fruits.
Santa Cruz manzanita is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in openings within chaparral and forest at elevations of 150 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink flowers with distinctive sticky-glandular ovaries. Growing as a compact shrub with smooth, reddish-brown twigs that are glabrous or sparsely short-haired, it forms dense, rounded clusters. Its leaves are glabrous, creating a smooth, glossy appearance against the plant's distinctive bark. The fruit is characterized by its sticky, rough surface, reflecting the plant's unique glandular texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; glabrous leaves and twigs vs. hairy in other subspecies, but sticky-glandular fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in chaparral, forest
Elevation: 150-1400 m
California counties: Lake, Del Norte, Napa, Sonoma, Tehama, Siskiyou, Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Shasta, Mendocino, Trinity
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella 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 viscida subsp. pulchella native to California?
Yes. Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella bloom?
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella grow?
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella occurs in Lake, Del Norte, Napa, Sonoma, Tehama, Siskiyou, Colusa, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 150-1400 m.
What plant family does Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella belong to?
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arctostaphylos.
What habitat does Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella grow in?
Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. pulchella grows in Openings in chaparral, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arctostaphylos viscida subsp. viscida
- Arctostaphylos andersonii — Anderson's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos auriculata — Mount diablo manzanita
- Arctostaphylos bakeri — Baker's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos bakeri subsp. bakeri — Baker's manzanita
- Arctostaphylos bakeri subsp. sublaevis — The cedars manzanita
- Cassiope mertensiana — White heather
- Cassiope sp. — Moss heather
- Chimaphila menziesii — Little prince's pine
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.