Arctostaphylos montaraensis

This perennial evergreen shrub is endemic to California, native only to a few occurrences in northern San Mateo County on San Bruno Mountain and Montara Mountain, northern extensions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.[1]

It is found at elevations of 80–500 metres (260–1,640 ft) on the two mountains, growing on decomposing granite and sandstone rock outcrops, in coastal chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats.[1]

The plant is ranked as a critically endangered species by the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, due to being threatened by new developments and off trail/road walking and vehicle (e.g. motorcycles, mountain bikes) habitat degradation.[3]

Arctostaphylos montaraensis is a mounding to erect shrub that can grow to heights from 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) (on exposed granite outcrops) to 5 metres (16 ft). The multiple trunks and stems have a deep reddish−brown bark. The twigs and nascent inflorescence axis are coated in glandular bristles. The shrub has a dense foliage of light gray−green glandular leaves, rough and dull in texture, and up to 4 or 5 centimeters long.[2]

The inflorescence is a dense cluster of cone-shaped manzanita flowers, each white in color, and just under a centimeter long and with bristles inside.[2] The flowering period is January through March.[1]

The small "apple−like" (Spanish manzanita) red fruits are 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in) wide.

Arctostaphylos montaraensis is cultivated as a chaparral landscaping plant, for California native plant, drought tolerant, and natural habitat gardens.[4]

• California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion
• Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands

• Calflora Database: Arctostaphylos montaraensis (Montara manzanita)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Arctostaphylos montaraensis
• USDA Plants Profile for Arctostaphylos montaraensis
• UC CalPhotos gallery of Arctostaphylos montaraensis images

Arctostaphylos montaraensis, in the Berkeley University of California Botanical Garden California chaparral garden.