Monardella sinuata
Curly leaved monardella
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Monardella sinuata (Curly leaved monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by annual habit with wavy leaf margins and gland-tipped upper corolla lobes.
Curly leaved monardella is a California native annual herb found in coastal and inland regions in sandy or disturbed habitats. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers in compact clusters with distinctive wavy-edged leaves. Growing with slender to stout stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall in colors ranging from straw-yellow to dark red-brown, it has an upright, sometimes branched form. Its leaves are linear to oblanceolate, 10 to 55 millimeters long with distinctively wavy margins, clustered in axillary groups and appearing somewhat fleshy. The flower bracts are elliptic to ovate, often with intriguing purple tinges and potential black-tipped edges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; annual habit with wavy leaf margins and gland-tipped upper corolla lobes
Habitat and range
California counties: Ventura, Santa Barbara
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 sinuata native to California?
Yes. Monardella sinuata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Monardella sinuata grow?
Monardella sinuata occurs in Ventura, Santa Barbara.
What plant family does Monardella sinuata belong to?
Monardella sinuata is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Monardella sinuata ssp. gerryi — Gerry's curly- leaved monardella
- Monardella sinuata subsp. nigrescens — northern curly- leaved monardella
- Monardella sinuata subsp. sinuata — southern curly- leaved monardella
- Monardella sp.
- Monardella stebbinsii — Stebbins' monardella
- Monardella stoneana — Jennifer's monardella
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.