Monardella leucocephala
Merced monardella
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1A
Monardella leucocephala (Merced monardella) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by distinctive small white flowers and scarious bracts.
Merced monardella is a rare (CNPS 1A) California native annual found in northern San Joaquin Valley grasslands and interior sand dunes of Stanislaus and Merced counties at elevations of 50 to 100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers in compact clusters 10 to 15 millimeters wide with distinctive white bracts and white flower lobes. Growing with gray-green stems 15 to 26 centimeters tall and branched throughout, it has a strongly scented herbage. Its leaves are hairy, lanceolate to oblong, 10 to 35 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide with obscure lateral veins. The plant's white flower clusters are notable for having scarious bracts with conspicuous main veins and short, broad corolla lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive small white flowers and scarious bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soil in grassland, interior sand dunes (Delhi sands)
Elevation: 50-100 m
Bloom period
Monardella leucocephala blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1A
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 leucocephala native to California?
Yes. Monardella leucocephala is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella leucocephala bloom?
Monardella leucocephala blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Monardella leucocephala belong to?
Monardella leucocephala is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella leucocephala rare or endangered?
Monardella leucocephala carries California Rare Plant Rank 1A, state rank SX.
What habitat does Monardella leucocephala grow in?
Monardella leucocephala grows in Sandy soil in grassland, interior sand dunes (Delhi sands).
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.