Taxon Report

Arctostaphylos franciscana Eastw.

Franciscan manzanita

Print Report


© 2015 Neal Kramer

Taxon Summary

Arctostaphylos franciscana, commonly known as Franciscan manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 60 to 300 meters. Arctostaphylos franciscana is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Arctostaphylos franciscana Eastw.
Common Name:
 Franciscan manzanita
Family: Ericaceae
Element Code: PDERI040J3
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. franciscana

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Feb-Apr Feb-Apr
Elevation: 60-300 (195-985)
General Habitats: Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: GHC
State Rank:
 S1
State List: None
Fed List: FE
Other Status: SB_UCBG
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 1A to 1B.1 on 2009-12-22

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 4
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 3
   Unknown (U) 1

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Francisco (SFO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
San Francisco North (3712274), San Francisco South (3712264)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 3
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
4 100 %
Development 3 75%
Other 1 25%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 25%

Notes
Single plant rediscovered in 2009. Previously considered extinct since 1947. See Madrono 54(2): 148-155 (2007) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Seriously threatened by road construction.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 32:201 (1905)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 17 November 2025].