Monardella beneolens

Sweet-smelling monardella

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Sweet-smelling monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains on rocky granitic or metamorphic slopes in open conifer forest at elevations of 2,500 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces lavender to pale rose flowers in compact clusters 10 to 20 millimeters wide with distinctive wavy bracts. Growing as a matted or tufted subshrub with decumbent stems 10 to 30 centimeters long, it features spreading soft and glandular hairs. Its small leaves, less than 10 millimeters long, are narrowly ovate with wavy margins and dense, long, wavy hairs on the undersides. The plant's delicate lavender flowers emerge from green to straw-colored bracts that are sometimes rose-tinged, creating a subtle and intricate botanical display.

Habitat: Rocky granitic or metamorphic slopes in open conifer forest

Bloom period: Apr-Sep

Elevation: 2500-3600 m

Bioregions: s SNH.

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