Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Arctostaphylos catalinae, the Santa Catalina Island manzanita, is a species in the Ericaceae (Heath) family. It is endemic to California, where it grows wild only in the Channel Islands, specifically, Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. This is a tall, bristly manzanita with a well defined trunk that is adapted to the stiff, saline breezes of the island bluffs in its habitat. It does not develop a basal burl and so does not sprout from the base after a fire. However, like other Manzanitas, the seeds germinate readily after fire. It is an attractive Manzanita that deserves to be used more often in coastal gardens.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

7 - 16 ft Tall

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, White

Flowering season

Winter, Spring

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Adaptable.

Site type

Volcanic outcrops, ridges in proximity to the ocean

Plant communities

Chaparral

Island companion plants include Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius), Island Live Oak (Quercus tometella), Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), Island Bristleweed (Hazardia detonsa), Redflower Buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens), Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), and Giant Coreopsis (Leptosyne gigantea). Other chaparral and sage scrub companions include California Encelia (Encelia californica), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), and Ceanothus spp.

Hummingbirds
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 12 likely

Confirmed Likely

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Aseptis perfumosa

Chionodes trichostola

Cochisea sinuaria