Monardella viminea

Willowy monardella

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Willowy monardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in southern San Diego County in rocky washes and alluvial benches at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers in compact clusters 20 to 30 millimeters wide with conspicuously gland-dotted bracts. Growing as a dense, upright subshrub 25 to 50 centimeters tall with stems that appear glaucous-green and are densely short-hairy. Its narrow leaves are linear to lance-shaped, 20 to 40 millimeters long, with a distinctive glaucous appearance and fine pubescence. The plant forms tight, clustered groups with delicate white to rose-tinted flower clusters that stand out against its pale green foliage.

Habitat: Rocky washes with cobbles, 2° alluvial benches

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: s SCo (San Diego Co.).

California counties: San Diego, Orange, Riverside

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