Monardella

( mon - ar - DELL - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials needs full sun and little water, making it a great choice for water-wise gardens. These plants are aromatic and native to California, known commonly as Wildmints, Coyote Mints, or simply Monardellas. They are relatives of Mint, and take a sprawling habit, with flowers clustered at the tips of stems. All varieties require very fast drainage and are great in wild gardens and amongst rocks.

Monardella Species and Varietals

The genus Monardella is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae Growing zones vary for Monardella depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below.

Monardella beneolens (Sweet-Smelling Monardella)
This critically imperiled species is endemic to California, where ti grows in the southern Sierra Nevadas in mountain forests and alpine meadows and fields. These plants are hariy, and form a mat of green foliage from which thin stems emerge, topped with pink to lavender colored flowers inside of pinkish to pale green bracts.

Monardella breweri (Brewer's Monardella)
This species forms branching, erect hairy stems to 26 inches tall. Leaves are opposite, and pink flowers form in heads and have stiff purplish bracts. 

Monardella douglasii (Douglas' Monardella)
This species is endemic to northern California, where it can be found in many habitats around the San Francisco Bay Area). These annual pants produce purple-pink flowers 

​Monardella exilis (Mojave Monardella, Desert Monardella)
This species is native to California's Mojave Desert and southern Sierra Nevadas. It is an annual herbaceous plant, reaching up to a foot tall when mature and in bloom. Flowers are typically white, sometimes spotted with purple tinges. Bloom time is between April and September. 

Monardella follettii (Follett's Monardella)
This species is native to California's Lassen National Forest. They are perennial herbaceous plants which form an erect purplish stem holding a head of several pink flowers within hairy bracts. 

​Monardella hypoleuca (Thickleaf Monardella, White Leaf Monardella)
These flowers are endemic to Southern California, and produces erect purple stems. Flowers are white, and leaves are green. 

Monardella linoides (Flaxleaf Monardella)
These plants reach about 20 inches tall and produce greyish-green foliage. Leaves are coated in hairs. Flowers are purple, and bracts are pale pink to whitish. 

​Monardella macrantha (Red Monardella)
This species is best in zones 7-9 and 14-24, producing a 6-inch tall, 1 foot wide clump of shiny dark green leaves and bright red flowers in late spring and summertime. Variety 'Marian Sampson' is a disease-resistant plant.

Monardella nana (Yellow Mondardella)
These low-growing plants form a tuft or mat of slender stems and ovular green leaves. Stems and foliage are hairless. Flowers are pink to white in color, and are surrounded by pinkish-white bracts.

Monardella odoratissima (Mountain Coyote Mint, Mountain Beebalm, Mountain Monardella, Mountain Pennyroyal)
This species of Monardella grows well in zones 1-3, 7-10 and 14-24. This plant has a sprawling, bushy habit and a woody base, reaching between 4 inches and 2 feet tall and spreads as wide as it is tall. Leaves are grey-green and have hairs, and flowers are purple and bloom in summer and fall. This variety's leaves can be used to make tea.

Caring for Monardella

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Monardella
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 445, Monardella
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