Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced two new state symbols, signing legislation establishing the bigberry manzanita as the state shrub and the giant garter snake as the state snake.

“Our state symbols celebrate California's uniqueness, especially our distinctive ecosystems. California is a global biodiversity hotspot, with both the highest total number of species and the highest number of endemic species in the United States — including our new state shrub and snake,” Newsom said.
 
Bigberry manzanita

AB 581, by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), designates the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as the official state shrub. 

The bigberry manzanita, a shrub almost exclusively native to California, possesses unique abilities and traits that make it highly adaptable to wildfire-prone land, including rapid regeneration after fire exposure and fire-triggered seed germination. 

The plant’s extensive root system helps resist soil erosion, yet thrives in dry, nutrient-poor soils — a useful tool to prevent mud or landslides, especially in wildfire burn scars.
 
Giant garter snake

SB 765 by Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) establishes the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the state snake. 

A description of the snake provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife said its coloration is “olive to brown with a cream, yellow or orange stripe running down its back, and two light colored stripes running along each side.”

The population of the giant garter snake has declined by more than 90% in the last century — it was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 1971, and the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993. 

This species is endemic to California, found only in the Central Valley. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife reported that the giant garter snake’s current range extends from Butte and Glenn counties in the northern Sacramento Valley to Fresno County in the south. They are found in natural waterways and agriculture wetlands such as canals and rice fields. 

Officials said only about 5% of the giant garter snake’s historical wetland habitat acreage remains available to it.