Arctostaphylos obispoensis is a rare species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family known by the common names Serpentine Manzanita and Bishop Manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the southern Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. For this reason it is included in CNPS list 4.3. It grows in the woodlands and forests of the coastal range, usually on serpentine soil. This is a shrub growing to a height of at least a meter, but known to sprawl to over four meters in height. The small branches and newer leaves are woolly. The mature leaves are hairless and oblong to widely lance-shaped and up to 4.5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a dense cluster of urn-shaped manzanita flowers. The fruit is a waxy drupe at least a centimeter wide. Despite its rarity, it is a fairly easy plant to grow and good for the central coast.
Arctostaphylos obispoensis
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