Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca
Photo: parent species Monardella odoratissima · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca is a native California shrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by glaucous stems and purple flowers distinguish from other odoratissima subspecies.
Glaucous monardella is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in rocky openings, sagebrush scrub, and subalpine forest at elevations of 1,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces lavender to red-purple flowers in dense clusters 16 to 28 millimeters wide, surrounded by pale rose or grayish bracts. Growing with green to dark gray stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact, multi-stemmed clusters. Its leaves are highly variable, generally elliptic to ovate, 15 to 25 millimeters long, ranging from nearly smooth to slightly hairy. The flower clusters are subtended by reflexed leaves with distinctive pale, rose, or grayish bracts that add textural interest to the plant's appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; glaucous stems and purple flowers distinguish from other odoratissima subspecies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky openings, sagebrush scrub to subalpine forest
Elevation: 1000-3500 m
California counties: Lassen, Modoc, Fresno, Tuolumne, Plumas, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono, Humboldt, Nevada, Inyo, Tulare, Alpine, Placer, Shasta, Trinity, Mariposa, Madera, Butte, Amador, Kern, Tehama, Glenn, Sierra, Mendocino, Colusa, Del Norte, Lake
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca blooms Jun-Aug.
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 odoratissima subsp. glauca native to California?
Yes. Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca bloom?
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca grow?
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca occurs in Lassen, Modoc, Fresno, Tuolumne, Plumas, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3500 m.
What plant family does Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca belong to?
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
What habitat does Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca grow in?
Monardella odoratissima subsp. glauca grows in Rocky openings, sagebrush scrub to subalpine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.