Monardella undulata subsp. undulata

San luis obispo monardella, San Luis Obispo Monardella

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

San luis obispo monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern central Coast Ranges in San Luis Obispo County, occurring in stabilized coastal dunes and coastal scrub habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces rose-purple to purple flowers in compact clusters 10 to 20 millimeters wide. Growing with several erect stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall that are slightly hairy and often purple-tinged, it forms an open, distinctive subshrub structure. Its thin leaves are linear to narrowly lanceolate, 10 to 30 millimeters long with wavy margins, appearing sparse and green. Its flower bracts are notably straw-colored or purple, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, creating an attractive visual contrast.

Habitat: Stabilized dunes, coastal scrub, stabilized sandy soils

Bloom period: Apr-Sep

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: s CCo (San Luis Obispo Co.).

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.