Monardella linoides
Flax like monardella
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Monardella linoides (Flax like monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by parent species with wide morphological variation.
Flax like monardella is a California native shrub found in dry, rocky habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from late spring to summer, this plant produces delicate white to light blue or purple flowers in compact clusters up to 30 millimeters wide, surrounded by papery bracts in soft shades of white, straw, pink, and rose. Growing with erect stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive silvery to ash-gray appearance with dense, uniform, recurved hairs. Its leaves are linear to narrowly ovate, 10 to 35 millimeters long and 2 to 10 millimeters wide, ranging from green to silvery or ash-gray in coloration. The plant's flowers feature stiff-hairy calyx lobes and exserted stamens, creating a delicate and textural botanical profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; parent species with wide morphological variation
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono, Tulare, San Diego, Fresno, Kern, Nevada, Orange, Ventura
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 linoides native to California?
Yes. Monardella linoides is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Monardella linoides grow?
Monardella linoides occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Inyo, Mono, Tulare, San Diego, Fresno and other counties.
What plant family does Monardella linoides belong to?
Monardella linoides is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.