Shrubs or trees, erect, (arbo-rescent), 2-5 m; burl absent; twigs densely short-hairy with long, white, gland-tipped hairs. Leaves bifacial in stomatal distribution; petiole to 4 mm; blade bright green, dull, oblong, 4-7 × 1.5-2.5 cm, base auriculate-clasping, margins en-tire, plane, surfaces smooth, glabrous. Inflorescences panicles, 4-6-branched; immature inflorescence pendent, branches spreading, axis 2-3 cm, 1+ mm diam., densely short-hairy with long, white, gland-tipped hairs; bracts not appressed, leaflike, lanceolate, 8-15 mm, apex acute, surfaces short-hairy with long, gland-tipped hairs. Pedicels 6-8 mm, finely glandular-hairy. Flowers: corolla white, conic; ovary finely glandular-hairy. Fruits depressed-globose, 6-8 mm diam., finely glandular-hairy, (viscid). Stones distinct. 2n = 26.

Flowering winter-early spring. Chaparral, edges of open forests; of conservation concern; 300-900 m; Calif.

Arctostaphylos andersonii is known from the central and southern Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.