Taxon Report

Arctostaphylos pumila Nutt.

sandmat manzanita

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Arctostaphylos pumila, commonly known as sandmat manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (maritime), Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 3 to 205 meters. Arctostaphylos pumila is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Arctostaphylos pumila Nutt.
Common Name:	sandmat manzanita
Family:	Ericaceae
Element Code:	PDERI04180
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARPU4
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Feb-May	Feb-May
Elevation:	3-205 (10-675)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:	Openings, Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	17
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	10

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Monterey (MNT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Marina (3612167), Monterey (3612158), Salinas (3612166), Seaside (3612157), Spreckels (3612156)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	8
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	8	47 %
Development	7	41%
Non-native plant impacts	5	29%
Road/trail construction/maint.	5	29%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	5%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	5%
Biocides	1	5%
ORV activity	1	5%
Disease	1	5%

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by urbanization, and by military activities at Ft. Ord. Possibly threatened by non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, new series 8: 266–267. (1843)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 26 October 2025].