Pycnanthemum californicum
California mint
(c) Neal Kelso, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pycnanthemum californicum (California mint) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by Only Pycnanthemum species in CA, eastern North American genus with this single western representative.
California mint is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, northern Sacramento Valley, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in moist sites, chaparral, oak woodland, and conifer forest at elevations of 500 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive purple or violet spots on the lower lip, arranged in 2 to 5 head-like clusters. Growing with erect stems 50 to 130 centimeters tall that range from smooth to densely hairy, it forms a robust and aromatic herb. Its leaves are ovate to widely lance-shaped, 2.5 to 7.5 centimeters long, with entire or finely toothed edges and a slightly rounded base, typically covered in a soft, woolly texture. The plant's densely hairy flower calyces and distinctively spotted white and purple flowers make it a striking component of its native habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Pycnanthemum species in CA, eastern North American genus with this single western representative
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist sites, chaparral, oak woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 500-1900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Trinity, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Amador, El Dorado, Shasta, Fresno, Placer, Plumas, San Diego, Tuolumne, Merced, Madera, Mariposa, Butte, Sierra, Yuba, Tehama
Bloom period
Pycnanthemum californicum blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Mentha: True mint has smooth green calyxes; Pycnanthemum's flower heads have conspicuous white-fuzzy calyx tips.; vs Stachys: Hedge-nettle has flowers in loose whorls; Pycnanthemum has extremely dense heads with white-frosted appearance.; vs Salvia: Sage has smooth calyxes in elongated spikes; Pycnanthemum's rounded heads are covered in white fuzz.; vs Lamium: Dead nettle has smooth calyxes and pink flowers; Pycnanthemum has white-fuzzy calyxes in dense heads.; vs Lamiastrum: Yellow archangel has bright yellow flowers; Pycnanthemum has white to pale flowers with fuzzy-white calyxes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pycnanthemum californicum native to California?
Yes. Pycnanthemum californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pycnanthemum californicum bloom?
Pycnanthemum californicum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Pycnanthemum californicum grow?
Pycnanthemum californicum occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Trinity, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 500-1900 m.
What plant family does Pycnanthemum californicum belong to?
Pycnanthemum californicum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Pycnanthemum.
What habitat does Pycnanthemum californicum grow in?
Pycnanthemum californicum grows in Moist sites, chaparral, oak woodland, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.