Lepechinia sp.
Pitcher sage, Pitcher Sage
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lepechinia sp. (Pitcher sage) is a native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Salvia's calyx stays tubular in fruit; Lepechinia's calyx inflates into a balloon around the developing seeds.; vs Stachys: Hedge-nettle has much smaller flowers; Lepechinia's flowers are thumb-sized and dramatically larger.; vs Eriodictyon: Yerba santa has fuzzy leaves and five-petaled flowers; Lepechinia has mint-shaped two-lipped flowers.; vs Cistus: Rockrose has five separate petals like a rose; Lepechinia has tubular two-lipped mint flowers.; vs Abelia: Abelia has flowers with distinct petals spreading out; Lepechinia has a tubular mint flower with lips.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lepechinia sp. native to California?
Yes. Lepechinia sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Lepechinia sp. belong to?
Lepechinia sp. is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Lepechinia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lepechinia calycina — White pitcher sage
- Lepechinia cardiophylla — Heart-leaved pitcher sage
- Lepechinia fragrans — Fragrant pitcher sage
- Lepechinia ganderi — Gander's pitcher sage
- Lepechinia rossii — Ross' pitcher sage
- Lycopus americanus — American water horehound
- Lycopus asper — Rough bugleweed
- Lycopus sp. — Bugleweed
- Lycopus uniflorus — Northern bugleweed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.