Pogogyne clareana

Santa lucia mint, Santa Lucia Mint

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Santa lucia mint is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the central coastal region of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County, inhabiting creek beds, swales, and vernal pools at elevations of 300 to 400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate white to lavender flowers in small clusters less than 10 millimeters wide with funnel-shaped corollas 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with erect, slender stems 15 to 25 centimeters tall that are few-branched and sparsely hairy, it develops a compact and delicate structure. Its leaves have sparse, short hairs with bracts featuring obtuse to rounded tips, creating a subtle and intricate botanical profile. The small fruits are approximately 1.5 millimeters long, complementing the mint's diminutive and elegant form.

Habitat: Creek beds, swales, vernal pools

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: 300-400 m

Bioregions: SCoRO (Fort Hunter Liggett, Monterey Co.).

California counties: Monterey

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