Monardella eremicola
Clark mountain monardella
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Monardella eremicola (Clark mountain monardella) is a native California shrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by distinctive limestone habitat and glandular stems.
Clark mountain monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the northeastern Mojave Desert Mountains, including the Clark, New York, and Kingston Mountain ranges, on limestone and occasionally granite outcrops in pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers with purple markings, appearing lavender, in compact clusters 7 to 20 millimeters wide. Growing with several to many erect stems 15 to 55 centimeters tall, it features gray stems covered in dense, stout conical glands. Its leaves are narrow and pale grayish-green, measuring 12 to 27 millimeters long and 3 to 10 millimeters wide, with an elliptical shape and sparse fine hairs. The plant's distinctive glandular stems and delicate lavender-white flowers make it a unique inhabitant of its desert mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive limestone habitat and glandular stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone (occasionally granite) outcrops in pinyon/juniper woodland, canyons, slopes, wash margins
Elevation: 1500-2100 m
Bloom period
Monardella eremicola blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 eremicola native to California?
Yes. Monardella eremicola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella eremicola bloom?
Monardella eremicola blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Monardella eremicola belong to?
Monardella eremicola is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella eremicola rare or endangered?
Monardella eremicola carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Monardella eremicola grow in?
Monardella eremicola grows in Limestone (occasionally granite) outcrops in pinyon/juniper woodland, canyons, slopes, wash margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Monardella exilis — Desert monardella
- Monardella follettii — Follett's monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca — Thickleaf monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. hypoleuca — white-veined monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. intermedia — intermediate monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata — Felt-leaved monardella
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.