Plant · GBIF taxon 2882538
Vine Hill Manzanita
Arctostaphylos densifloraAlso known as Vinehill Manzanita
Vine Hill manzanita is a striking California shrub famed for its smooth mahogany bark, dense clusters of urn-shaped pink blossoms, and bright glossy foliage. Native exclusively to a specialized patch of sandy shale soil in Sonoma County, its wild survival hinges on a single tiny remnant population near Sebastopol. Though nearly extinct in its natural habitat, cultivated varieties of this resilient plant are widely grown in native plant gardens.
EndangeredEndemicEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Herbivorous insects
- Small mammals
ThreatsExtreme rarity, habitat loss, genetic bottlenecks, fire suppression
HabitatsChaparral on sandy shale soils
Life span50–100+ years
Classification
- OrderEricales
- FamilyEricaceae
- GenusArctostaphylos
- SpeciesArctostaphylos densiflora
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fruits based on app identification alone.
- What to notice
- Recognized by smooth dark mahogany bark, dense pink flower clusters, and compact glossy leaves.
- Support conservation
- Never gather seeds, flowers, or cuttings from wild plants, and keep a respectful distance from native stands.
Responsible observation
- Garden Cultivation: Purchase named cultivars like 'Howard McMinn' from licensed native plant nurseries.
- Observe Responsibly: Avoid trespassing on private land or stepping off marked trails near protected wild stands.
- Protect Habitat: Steer clear of sensitive sandy shale soils that erode easily underfoot.
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Family Member (c) J Straka, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by J Straka · cc-by
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