Monardella australis
Southern monardella
(c) velodrome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Monardella australis (Southern monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by parent of subspecies so morphology spans wide range.
Southern monardella is a California native shrub found in rocky, dry habitats across southern California mountain ranges. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white to rose-purple flowers in compact clusters 8 to 23 millimeters wide. Growing as a low, matted subshrub with decumbent to erect stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it spreads through underground rhizomes. Its narrow leaves are 5 to 30 millimeters long, ranging from lanceolate to triangular-ovate, with a green to ash-gray coloration and occasionally wavy margins. The plant's distinctive flower bracts are narrowly lanceolate, often tinged with green, red, or purple, and form a cup-like involucre around the delicate blossoms.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; parent of subspecies so morphology spans wide range
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino
How to tell it apart
vs Mentha: Mint has multiple flower clusters spaced along the stem; Monardella has one terminal pom-pom head per stem.; vs Salvia: Sage has flowers spaced along an elongated spike; Monardella's flowers are densely packed into a rounded head.; vs Veronica: Speedwell has flowers in a loose spike and isn't aromatic; Monardella's flowers form a dense head with mint scent.; vs Phacelia: Phacelia's flower clusters uncurl like a fern; Monardella's form a compact, stationary head with a bract collar.; vs Valeriana: Valerian has tiny flowers in branched clusters; Monardella has larger mint flowers in a single terminal head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monardella australis native to California?
Yes. Monardella australis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Monardella australis grow?
Monardella australis occurs in Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino.
What plant family does Monardella australis belong to?
Monardella australis is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Monardella australis ssp. gabrielensis — San Gabriel Mountains monardella
- Monardella australis ssp. occidentalis — southwestern mountain monardella
- Monardella australis subsp. australis
- Monardella australis subsp. cinerea — Gray monardella
- Monardella australis subsp. jokerstii — Jokerst's monardella
- Monardella beneolens — Sweet-smelling monardella
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.