How much sun does Little Sur manzanita need?

Little Sur manzanita grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Little Sur manzanita bloom?

Little Sur manzanita blooms in December, January, February, and March.

Where is Little Sur manzanita native?

Little Sur manzanita (Arctostaphylos edmundsii) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Little Sur manzanita host?

Little Sur manzanita is a larval host plant for brown elfin.

Little Sur manzanita

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Arctostaphylos edmundsii

Last reviewed: November 2026

Little Sur manzanita (Arctostaphylos edmundsii) is a perennial shrub native to CA. It blooms in December, January, February, and March. The flowers draw bees and hummingbirds.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Little Sur manzanita, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Little Sur manzanita (Arctostaphylos edmundsii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

6"–18" H × 48"–72" W

Bloom

Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Native to

Pollinators

bees, hummingbirds

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Little Sur manzanita.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains

A low, mat-forming evergreen shrub with small, rounded leaves and smooth reddish bark on older stems. Clusters of small urn-shaped pink to white flowers appear in winter, followed by round berries.

Growing Little Sur manzanita

Grow Little Sur manzanita in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 48 to 72 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for brown elfin.

Winter flowers feed bees and hummingbirds when little else blooms, and the foliage hosts brown elfin butterfly caterpillars.

Common questions

How much sun does Little Sur manzanita need?: Little Sur manzanita grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Little Sur manzanita bloom?: Little Sur manzanita blooms in December, January, February, and March.
Where is Little Sur manzanita native?: Little Sur manzanita (Arctostaphylos edmundsii) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Little Sur manzanita host?: Little Sur manzanita is a larval host plant for brown elfin.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Little Sur manzanita? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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