Monardella pringlei
Pringle's monardella
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1A
Monardella pringlei (Pringle's monardella) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by annual habit is unique in genus, distinctive purple anthers.
Pringle's monardella is a rare (CNPS 1A) California native annual found in eastern Southern California near Colton, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties in interior sand dunes at elevations of 300 to 400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces rose or purple flowers in compact clusters 15 to 20 millimeters wide with distinctive purple-tinged bracts. Growing with erect gray-green stems 11 to 32 centimeters tall and branching near the base, it has a delicate, hairy appearance. Its leaves are 8 to 48 millimeters long, 2 to 12 millimeters wide, and covered in soft hairs, giving the plant a soft, textured look. The flowers feature long-hairy, awl-like calyx lobes and stamens with deep-purple anther sacs that contrast beautifully with the rose or purple corolla.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; annual habit is unique in genus, distinctive purple anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Interior sand dunes, sandy soils
Elevation: 300-400 m
Bloom period
Monardella pringlei blooms Apr-Jun.
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 pringlei native to California?
Yes. Monardella pringlei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella pringlei bloom?
Monardella pringlei blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Monardella pringlei belong to?
Monardella pringlei is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella pringlei rare or endangered?
Monardella pringlei carries California Rare Plant Rank 1A, state rank SX.
What habitat does Monardella pringlei grow in?
Monardella pringlei grows in Interior sand dunes, sandy soils.
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.