Taxon Report

Arctostaphylos morroensis Wies. & Schreib.

Morro manzanita

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Arctostaphylos morroensis, commonly known as Morro manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (maritime), Cismontane woodland, Coastal dunes (pre-Flandrian), and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 5 to 205 meters. Arctostaphylos morroensis is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Arctostaphylos morroensis Wies. & Schreib.
Common Name:	Morro manzanita
Family:	Ericaceae
Element Code:	PDERI040S0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARMO2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Dec-Mar	Dec-Mar
Elevation:	5-205 (15-675)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:	Baywood fine sand

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CC
Fed List:	FT
Other Status:	SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	9
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	5

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Morro Bay South (3512037)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	33 %
Development	3	33%
Non-native plant impacts	2	22%
ORV activity	2	22%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	11%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	11%

Notes



Estimated to cover less than 350 acres as of 1996. See Madroño 5(1):42 (1939) for original description.
Threats:
Threatened by urbanization, alteration of fire regimes, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 23 October 2025].