01/29/2026
Plant of the Week:
Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Pajaro Manzanita
We are staying in the theme of winter blooms and highlighting a narrow endemic from the Pajaro Hills of Monterey County this week. Its entire native distribution occupies only a few square kilometers (!) of maritime chaparral on deep sandy soils, old dune systems and sandstone.
It is an evergreen shrub with twisting architecture and cinnamon bark characteristic of the genus. New leaf growth emerges copper and reddish before maturing to a glaucous bluegreen. Flowers bloom in winter and provide resources for hummingbirds and native bees during a time of low nectar availability.
Arctostaphylos pajaroensis is an obligate seeder, meaning it lacks a burl and the ability to resprout after fire, so regeneration occurs through a seed bank. Dormancy is broken by heat and fire cues. Fire suppression, habitat fragmentation, and land conversion represent the main threats to the species.
Because of its extremely limited range, Arctostaphylos pajaroensis is ranked 1B.1 in California and Critically Imperiled (G1) globally. While cultivated plants exist in gardens and conservation collections like the ones here at Intermountain, we still carry the responsibility to protect our few remaining intact maritime and chaparral habitats where this species and many others evolved together. [CONTINUED IN COMMENTS]
Plants like this exist from very specific geology, fire patterns, climate, and time lining up long enough for them to adapt and settle in. If you’d like to understand more of how land, fire, water, and time shape the plants we see today, come join Obi Kaufmann and our small group for Poetry, Place, and Policy on February 7th. We’ll be talking about plants like this one and what it takes to keep those landscapes functioning.
We currently have Arctostaphylos pajaroensis available in one-gallon containers for those looking to add some rare and endemic genetics to your California native garden.
Open until 5 PM 🌱
📷 4-7: Mike Russler
