Shrubs, erect or mound-forming, 1-4 m; burl absent; bark on older stems persistent, gray, shredded; twigs short-hairy, sometimes with long hairs. Leaves bifacial in stomatal distribution; petiole to 2 mm; blade light green abaxially, dark blue-green, glaucous adaxially, dull, ovate to triangular-ovate, 2-4 × 1-2 cm, base distinctly lobed, auriculate-clasping, margins (tinged with red), entire, ± cupped, surfaces smooth, glabrous, midvein hairy abaxially. Inflorescences panicles, 2-5-branched; immature inflorescence pendent, branches spreading, axis 1-1.5 cm, 1+ mm diam., short-hairy, sometimes with long hairs; bracts not appressed, leaflike, linear-lanceolate, 5-10 mm, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous. Pedicels 5-8 mm, finely hairy or glabrous. Flowers: corolla white to pink, urceolate; ovary densely white-hairy. Fruits depressed-globose, 6-8 mm diam., sparsely hairy or glabrous. Stones distinct. 2n = 26.

Flowering early winter-early spring. Maritime chaparral on deep to shallow, sandy soils or sandstone outcroppings; of conservation concern; 0-200 m; Calif.

Arctostaphylos pajaroensis is found in the vicinity of the Pajaro Hills in Monterey County.