Arctostaphylos regismontana, commonly known as Kings Mountain manzanita, is an evergreen shrub endemic to the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. It is particularly adapted to the chaparral and mixed evergreen forests, often found on the northern slopes where granite and sandstone soils predominate. Kings Mountain manzanita typically reaches heights of 2 to 4 meters, with bristly, glandular stems that exude sticky resins. The dense foliage is composed of curved, oval-shaped leaves that are a deep green, adding to the plant’s visual appeal. During the winter to early spring, it produces open clusters of small, urn-shaped, white to pale pink flowers that are particularly attractive to native pollinators. The fruit is a hairy, sticky drupe that matures in the summer.

Kings Mountain manzanita is valued for its ornamental qualities, including its attractive bark, which peels in thin sheets to reveal a smooth, reddish underlayer. It is used in native plant gardens, as a specimen plant, or for erosion control on slopes due to its deep root system. This manzanita prefers full sun to light shade and requires well-drained soils; it is 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 also be aware that the sticky resins can make handling the plant somewhat challenging.CC BY-SA 4.0