Arctostaphylos manzanita is endemic to California, where it can be found in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills.

The small white flowers, only a quarter inch long, are cup-shaped and hang upside down.

The bark on the long, crooked branches is reddish, making the shrub easily identifiable as a manzanita.

Like other manzanitas, this species has a hard, attractive wood that has proved useful for making tools and as firewood.

The fruit is edible and has a pleasant tartness, but the seeds cause gastrointestinal upset if eaten in large quantities.