Arctostaphylos obispoensis, commonly known as Bishop Manzanita or Serpentine Manzanita, is an evergreen shrub or small multi-trunked tree endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains in California. It is specifically adapted to serpentine soils within chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitats, thriving at elevations of 200 to 3,120 feet. Bishop Manzanita can reach a height of 3.3 to 13.1 feet and is notable for its woolly branches and leaves. During the winter to early spring, it produces dense clusters of white urn-shaped flowers that are attractive to pollinators. The red round waxy drupes that follow are a food source for local wildlife.

Bishop Manzanita is valued for its ornamental qualities, including its interesting form, attractive bark, and showy flowers. It is used in native plant gardens, as a specimen plant, and for erosion control on slopes. This species prefers full sun to part shade and requires well-drained soils; it is particularly drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to fungal diseases in poorly drained soils. Gardeners should be aware that it may not thrive outside its native serpentine soil conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0