Monardella hypoleuca
Thickleaf monardella
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Monardella hypoleuca (Thickleaf monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by parent species with variable leaf indument.
Thickleaf monardella is a California native shrub found in rocky, mountainous habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white to lavender flowers in compact clusters 10 to 35 millimeters wide. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 55 centimeters tall, it forms dense, matted clumps with distinctive purple stems. Its narrow leaves are 20 to 50 millimeters long, lance-linear in shape, with white-woolly undersides that create a striking felt-like appearance. The plant's flowers feature obtuse lobes and exserted stamens, adding to its distinctive mountain chaparral character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; parent species with variable leaf indument
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 hypoleuca native to California?
Yes. Monardella hypoleuca is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Monardella hypoleuca belong to?
Monardella hypoleuca is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. hypoleuca — white-veined monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. intermedia — intermediate monardella
- Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata — Felt-leaved monardella
- Monardella leucocephala — Merced monardella
- Monardella linoides — Flax like monardella
- Monardella linoides subsp. anemonoides — southern Sierra monardella
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.