Arctostaphylos montaraensis, known by the common name Montara manzanita, is a species of manzanita in the family Ericaceae.
This perennial evergreen shrub is endemic to California, native only to a few occurrences in northern San Mateo County on San Bruno Mountain and Montara Mountain, northern extensions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
It is found at elevations of 80m-500mm (260feet-1,600feetm) on the two mountains, growing on decomposing granite and sandstone rock outcrops, in coastal chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats.
The plant is ranked as a critically endangered species by the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, due to being threatened by new developments and off trail/road walking and vehicle (e.g. motorcycles, mountain bikes) habitat degradation.[1]
Arctostaphylos montaraensis is a mounding to erect shrub that can grow to heights from 0.5m (01.6feet) (on exposed granite outcrops) to 5m (16feet). The multiple trunks and stems have a deep reddish−brown bark. The twigs and nascent inflorescence axis are coated in glandular bristles. The shrub has a dense foliage of light gray−green glandular leaves, rough and dull in texture, and up to 4 or 5 centimeters long.
The inflorescence is a dense cluster of cone-shaped manzanita flowers, each white in color, and just under a centimeter long and with bristles inside. The flowering period is January through March.
The small "apple−like" (Spanish manzanita) red fruits are 6mm7mm wide.
Arctostaphylos montaraensis is cultivated as a chaparral landscaping plant, for California native plant, drought tolerant, and natural habitat gardens.[2]