Sub-species
subsp.roofii
This subspecies has burls (dormant buds) and resprouts after fire. It has dull or glossy dark green leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary may be pubescent all glabrous. It is naturally found on the eastern slopes of the North Coast Rangers and the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California growing in chaparral at an altitude from 800 m to 1300 m (4,290 ft)

subsp. glaucenscens
This subspecies has no burls (dormant buds) and dies after fire. It has light to glaucous green leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary is glabrous. It is naturally found on the southern North Coast Rangers in California growing in chaparral or woodland margins at an altitude from 200 m to 600 m (2,000 ft)

subsp. elegans
This subspecies has no burls (dormant buds) and dies after fire. It has dull green leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary is glabrous. It is naturally found at higher altitudes in the southern North Coast Rangers in California growing in chaparral or upper woodland margins at an altitude from 600 m to 1,400 m (4,620 ft) commonly on rocky volcanic-based soils.

subsp. wieslanderi
This subspecies has no burls (dormant buds) and dies after fire. It has dull green glandular leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary is glabrous. It is naturally found on the middle at elevations of the North Coast Rangers in California growing in upper woodland margins at an altitude from a 600 m to 1,500 m (4,950 ft)

subsp. manzanita
This subspecies has no burls (dormant buds) and dies after fire. It has dull to glossy green leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary is glabrous. It is naturally widespread from the interior central coast to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California growing in chaparral or woodland margins and open coniferous forests from sea level to an altitude of 1,200 m (3,960 ft).

subsp. laevigata
This subspecies has no burls (dormant buds) and dies after fire. It has glossy green leaves and flowers from winter to early spring and the ovary is glabrous. It is naturally found on the western slopes of Mount Diablo in California growing in chaparral or woodland margins at an altitude from 500 m to 1,100 m (3,630 Ft).