The species was named after its discoverer, Peter Raven, a famous botanist and Berkeley alumnus who is director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Raven grew up in the Bay Area and, as a youngster, began conducting botanical studies. He found the single plant when he was 15 and in high school. The plant later was named in his honor, but also goes by the name Presidio manzanita. Raven said the Raven's manzanita is one of five subspecies of the species Arctostaphylos hookeri that occurs from Mount Tamalpais to the Arroyo de la Cruz in northwest San Luis Obispo County.
Experts say that manzanita plants never have been abundant in the Bay Area.
Over time, the number of plants was reduced by development. Cuttings of the Raven's manzanita have been taken by groups including Saratoga Horticultural Foundation, East Bay Regional Park District and Strybing Arboretum and grown in the groups' nurseries. But there isn't much of this type of soil left in the area. Anderson's work with the endangered species has prompted her to join a habitat restoration team through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The volunteer team meets weekly to remove exotic species encroaching on endemic plants, reseed areas with native species, map trails and do transplanting.