Monardella viridis
Green monardella
(c) Roger Raiche, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Monardella viridis (Green monardella) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by petioled leaves and small flower clusters distinctive.
Green monardella is a California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior including Napa, Lake, and Sonoma counties in chaparral, oak woodland, and conifer forest at elevations of 150 to 800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces rose to purple flowers in dense clusters 10 to 20 millimeters wide. Growing as a cespitose subshrub with ascending to erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters. Its petioled leaves are 5 to 20 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide, with upper surfaces nearly smooth and lower surfaces finely covered in appressed white hairs. The flower bracts are typically lanceolate to ovate, measuring 6 to 10 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; petioled leaves and small flower clusters distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodland, conifer forest, also serpentine
Elevation: 150-800 m
California counties: Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Plumas, Mariposa, Butte, El Dorado
Bloom period
Monardella viridis blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 viridis native to California?
Yes. Monardella viridis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monardella viridis bloom?
Monardella viridis blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Monardella viridis grow?
Monardella viridis occurs in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Plumas, Mariposa, Butte, El Dorado, at elevations of 150-800 m.
What plant family does Monardella viridis belong to?
Monardella viridis is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monardella.
Is Monardella viridis rare or endangered?
Monardella viridis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Monardella antonina ssp. antonina — San Antonio Hills Monardella
- Monardella antonina ssp. benitensis — San Benito Monardella
- Monardella australis — Southern monardella
- Monardella australis ssp. gabrielensis — San Gabriel Mountains monardella
- Monardella australis ssp. occidentalis — southwestern mountain monardella
- Monardella australis subsp. australis
- Nepeta cataria — Catnip
- Nepeta sp.
- Origanum ×majoricum — Italian oregano
- Origanum sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.