Taxon Report

Arctostaphylos manzanita Parry ssp. laevigata (Eastw.) Munz

Contra Costa manzanita

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. laevigata, commonly known as Contra Costa manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, growing at elevations from 430 to 1100 meters. Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. laevigata is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Arctostaphylos manzanita Parry ssp. laevigata (Eastw.) Munz
Common Name:	Contra Costa manzanita
Family:	Ericaceae
Element Code:	PDERI04273
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARMAL
Synonyms/Other Names:	Arctostaphylos pungens HBK. ssp. laevigata (Eastw.) Roof

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Jan-Mar(Apr)	Jan-Mar(Apr)
Elevation:	430-1100 (1410-3610)
General Habitats:	Chaparral
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	10
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	8

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Contra Costa (CCA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Byron Hot Springs (3712176), Clayton (3712188), Diablo (3712178), Tassajara (3712177)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	6
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	50 %
Improper burning regime	3	30%
Other	2	20%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	20%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	2	20%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	10%
Biocides	1	10%

Notes



See Leaflets of Western Botany 1:76 (1933) for original description, and Aliso 4(1):95 (1954) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Threatened by road maintenance. Possibly threatened by fire suppression.
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 22 November 2025].