Shrubs, erect, 1-5 m; burl absent; twigs densely glandular-hairy. Leaves: petiole 2-4 mm; blade bright green, ± shiny, narrowly oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 × 1-2.5 cm, base truncate to slightly lobed, margins entire, plane, surfaces papillate, sparsely glandular-hairy. Inflorescences racemes, simple or 1-branched; immature inflorescence pendent, (concealed by bracts), axis 1.5-2 cm, 1+ mm diam., densely glandular-hairy; bracts not appressed, (green), leaflike, linear-lanceolate, 8-20 mm, apex acuminate, surfaces densely glandular-hairy. Pedicels 3-8 mm, finely glandular-hairy. Flowers: corolla white, conic to urceolate; ovary glandular-hairy. Fruits depressed-globose, 6-8 mm diam., finely glandular-hairy, (viscid). Stones distinct. 2n = 26.

Flowering early winter-early spring. Maritime chaparral, open, closed-cone conifer forests; of conservation concern; 0-500 m; Calif.

Arctostaphylos virgata is associated mostly with Pinus muricata on the Point Reyes peninsula; populations are found at nearby sites from Bolinas Ridge, Muir Woods, and San Geronimo Ridge, Marin County.