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Plant Profile

Vine Hill Manzanita (Arctostaphylos densiflora)

This shot shows the ends of the branches, leaves and flowers of this manzanita. Photo Credit: Dieter Wilken

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Ericaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 150824
Lifeform: Subshrub, Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/06/1993

Description:

The Vine Hill manzanita is an extremely rare species that is endemic to Sonoma County, California. Three of the four historic occurrences of this species have been extirpated. In the 1990's the California Native Plants Society (CNPS) purchased the land where this last known population occurs and has been managing it for the species since then. (York 1987) The greatest threats to the 20-30 individuals left in this remaining population include roadside maintenance and a fungal disease that was reportedly affecting these plants in 1987. (York 1987) This rare manzanita is a low, spreading evergreen shrub that is in the heath family (Ericaceae). It has shiny green leaves, black branches, and small white-to-pink flowers.

Where is Vine Hill Manzanita (Arctostaphylos densiflora) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Roadside banks and neighboring areas in chaparral habitat with acid marine sand (York 1987).

Distribution:

The Northcoast Range in the vicinity of Vine Hill in Sonoma County, California (York 1987).

States & Provinces:

Vine Hill Manzanita can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Vine Hill Manzanita (Arctostaphylos densiflora)?

Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/13/17

University of California-Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 01/17/19

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Although this showy shrub is available commercially, it was thought to be extirpated until a few native shrubs were discovered at its only known site. Endemic to California, it is threated by a fungal infection.(NHS February Monthly Report, 1986)

01/01/2010

Roadside maintenance A fungal disease present in the remaining population (York 1987)

01/01/2010

There is only one extant population consisting of 20-30 individuals in Sonoma Co. CA (York 1987).

01/01/2010

None known.

01/01/2010

The remaining plants are located on land purchased by the California Native Plant Society for the purpose of protecting the remaining individuals (York 1987)

01/01/2010

Limit roadside maintenance near the population Research is badly needed on the fungus that is causing die-off in these plants (York 1987)

01/01/2010

Maintain a genetically representative seed bank.