Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata
Felt-leaved monardella, Felt-Leaved Monardella
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Williams · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata (Felt-leaved monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by distinctive dense pubescence on leaf upper surfaces.
Felt-leaved monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southwestern Peninsular Ranges in San Diego County chaparral on rocky, granitic slopes and hilltops at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces white flowers in compact clusters 11 to 25 millimeters wide, surrounded by narrow ovate bracts. Growing with densely hairy stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms a cespitose (clustered) habit with a strongly sweet scent. Its leaves are lance-linear, 20 to 40 millimeters long, arched between rolled-under margins and densely hairy on the upper surface. The plant produces a calyx 8 to 9 millimeters long with a white corolla 12 to 16 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive dense pubescence on leaf upper surfaces
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, rocky, granitic slopes or hilltops
Elevation: 300-1500 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata blooms May-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 subsp. lanata native to California?
Yes. Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata bloom?
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata belong to?
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata rare or endangered?
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata grow in?
Monardella hypoleuca subsp. lanata grows in Chaparral, rocky, granitic slopes or hilltops.
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.