A thank you to frequent BPotD contributor Eric in SF@Flickr for today's photograph (original image submitted via the BPotD Flickr Group Pool). I told myself that I needed to avoid photographs of California and its flora for at least a week or so, since I've been fairly California-centric lately – but one more won't hurt before I start that. Thanks, Eric!
California is the centre of diversity for the genus Arctostaphylos (the manzanitas or bearberries). Pajaro manzanita, unfortunately, is one of the endangered species. It is present in only two counties, Monterey and San Benito; a small population in Santa Cruz County was lost to residential development. It has been given 1B.1 Status by the California Native Plant Society, meaning it is “rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere” (1B) and seriously endangered in California (0.1). Despite that designation, it has no formal listing in either state or federal endangered species lists. This factsheet on Arctostaphylos pajaroensis from the Elkhorn Slough Coastal Training Program details the threats to the populations in Monterey County: again, residential development and associated fire suppression.
As always for Californian native plants, the Jepson Manual provides a detailed description of the taxon: Arctostaphylos pajaroensis.
Photography resource link: for inspiration, the photography of Patricia Brundage from Connecticut. Unfortunately, many of the images are on the small side.
Arctostaphylos pajaroensis is the source for two of the more commonly planted cultivars of manzanita. Arctostaphylos 'Paradise' is a selection of A. pajaroensis, and Sunset Manzanita is a cross between Arctostaphylos pajaroensis and Arctostaphylos hookerii. I have seen this hybrid in the wild as well.
Regarding its status, it is not listed by the USFW or California Fish and Game as rare or endangered, but it is afforded protection because it is the key indicator of maritime chaparral in northern Monterey County and parts of Santa Cruz County. Maritime chaparral is considered a rare or sensitive habitat at both the county and state levels.
I have seen two of these in cultivation in Seattle area, the species and 'Sunset' because it's the sort of thing that Mike Lee of Colvos Creek nursery, Vashon, WA likes. Both have an especially nice combination of bloomy leaves and pink flushed flowers, as can be seen in above photo.
Dale, would it be fair to say, though, that it is afforded fewer protections since it is not state or federally-listed?
Daniel,
It is usually only mitigated for on a habitat area (Acrage/sq ft) basis, and not per number of plants impacted by a certain development. It is also takes a long time to grow from seed so avoidance is always prefered. There are often other rare plants associated with maritime chaparral and I have worked on projects were Arctostaphylos pajaroensis was part of a required mitigation plan, but there was also Monterey Spineflower involved which is a federally listed species. One difference is that there are less restictions if you were to impact only say two or three shrubs, compared with if it was a fully listed species, that would require mitigation.
Also, regarding the listing as a 1B plant by the CNPS. California Native Plant Society is not a regulatory agency, but they have an agreement with the state of California that the impacts to any plant on the 1B list, but is not listed by a regulatory agency (i.e. USFW, or CDFG), must still be analyzed under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)
I live in Prunedale and have a large stand of mature Arctostaphylos pajaroensis on my property. Some of the bushes are 10' tall with thick, shaggy-barked trunks. The A. pajaroensis "grove" is ringing a hilltop clearing with the requisite shallow soil. The clearing was made over 40 years ago as a potential building site (still unused), so the stand is probably that age, and it's thriving. We prune any oaks that threaten to overshadow the manzanita. They are just now bursting into bloom after the first good rain. The flowers vary in color from plant to plant from nearly pure white to a fairly dark pink. Some years we have huge crops of the "little apples", the fruit, but very few seedlings have appeared over the 15 years we've lived here. All around us stands of Arctostaphylos pajaroensis have been bulldozed to be replaced by what we call "Casas Pretensiosas" with lawns and horse corrals. With such a small range and with all of the new houses being built in this area, it seems to me that this plant should definitely be considered endangered.
Daniel, I don't mind the California-centric tendencies of BPOTD lately. When you feature photos as gorgeous as the one (above) by Eric I really don't mind. We can't grow this arctostaphylos where I live (east of the Rocky Mt Divide, Helena, Montana) so I can feast my eyes on it and only imagine having this plant nearby. Eric - the bokeh in this photo is excellent. And the muted colors. I love it!