Lepechinia cardiophylla

Heart-leaved pitcher sage

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Heart-leaved pitcher sage is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges in chaparral at elevations of 600 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with distinctive glandular calyces. Growing with stems 30 to 50 centimeters tall that are covered in short-stalked glands and branched hairs, it forms a compact herbaceous cluster. Its heart-shaped to ovate leaves are irregularly toothed with a mix of branched and glandular hairs, creating a textured green surface. The plant produces small, glabrous fruits that mature after flowering.

Habitat: Chaparral

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 600-1200 m

Bioregions: PR.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.