Monardella candicans
Sierra monardella
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Monardella candicans (Sierra monardella) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by distinctive white flowers and scarious bracts.
Sierra monardella is a California native annual herb found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and eastern San Joaquin Valley in sandy or gravelly soils of oak woodland, chaparral, and lower yellow-pine forest at elevations of 40 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with purple spots, clustered in compact heads 12 to 25 millimeters wide with distinctive scarious bracts having white margins and green veins. Growing 15 to 55 centimeters tall with slightly purple stems that are softly hairy, it develops branches primarily in the upper portion of the plant. Its leaves are notably long-petioled, lance-shaped, 20 to 50 millimeters long and 3 to 12 millimeters wide, with a soft pubescent surface. Each flower features a white-margined calyx and a corolla with conspicuous glands at the tip of its lobes, creating an intricate and delicate botanical display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinctive white flowers and scarious bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, oak woodland, chaparral, lower yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 40-1250 m
Bloom period
Monardella candicans blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 candicans native to California?
Yes. Monardella candicans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella candicans bloom?
Monardella candicans blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Monardella candicans belong to?
Monardella candicans is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella candicans rare or endangered?
Monardella candicans carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Monardella candicans grow in?
Monardella candicans grows in Sandy or gravelly soils, oak woodland, chaparral, lower yellow-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.