Monardella
Monardella is a genus of approximately 40 species of annual and perennial plants native to western North America from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. They are grown for their highly aromatic foliage, which in some species is used for herbal teas. The two-lipped, tubular flowers are formed in terminal clusters and are most usually red, pink, or purple.
Monardella is a Latin diminutive form of Monarda, which the form of the flower heads resembles. Plants in this genus are commonly known as wildmints, coyote mints or monardellas.
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:Monardella angustifolia Elvin, Ertter & MansfieldMonardella arizonica Epling - ArizonaMonardella australis Abrams - southern CaliforniaMonardella beneolens Shevock, Ertter & Jokerst - southern CaliforniaMonardella boydii A.C.Sanders & Elvin - southern CaliforniaMonardella breweri A.Gray - California, Nevada, Arizona, Baja California- * Monardella breweri subsp. lanceolata A.C.Sanders & Elvin, syn. Monardella lanceolata A.Gray - CaliforniaMonardella candicans Benth. - San Joaquín Valley of CaliforniaMonardella douglasii Benth. - San Francisco Bay area of CaliforniaMonardella eplingii Elvin et al. - ArizonaMonardella eremicola A.C.Sanders & Elvin - southern CaliforniaMonardella exilis Greene - southern California, ArizonaMonardella follettii Jokerst - northern Sierra Nevada in CaliforniaMonardella hypoleuca A.Gray - southern California, Baja CaliforniaMonardella kruckebergii Elvin, R.B.Kelley & B.T.DrewMonardella lagunensis M.E.Jones - Baja California Sur
- †Monardella leucocephala A.Gray - Merced & Stanislaus counties in California but believed to be extinctMonardella linoides A.Gray - California, Arizona, Nevada, Baja CaliforniaMonardella macrantha A.Gray - California, Baja CaliforniaMonardella mojavensis Elvin & A.C.Sanders - Mohave Desert of southeastern California & southern NevadaMonardella nana A.Gray - California, Baja CaliforniaMonardella odoratissima Benth. - mountain wildmint, mountain coyote mint or mountain pennyroyal - much of western North America from British Columbia south to southern California & New Mexico
- * Monardella odoratissima subsp. villosa Brunell, syns Monardella antonina Hardham, Monardella villosa Benth. – coyote mint – CaliforniaMonardella palmeri A.Gray - Santa Lucia Mountains of west-central California
- Monardella perplexans Elvin, R.B.Kelley & B.T.Drew
- †Monardella pringlei A.Gray - Mohave Desert of southeastern California but believed to be extinctMonardella purpurea Howell - Oregon, CaliforniaMonardella robisonii Epling ex Munz - Mohave Desert of southeastern California Monardella saxicola I.M.Johnst. - southeastern California Monardella sheltonii Torr. ex Durand - Oregon, CaliforniaMonardella sinuata Elvin & A.C.Sanders - coastal central CaliforniaMonardella siskiyouensis Hardham - northern CaliforniaMonardella stebbinsii Hardham & Bartel - Plumas County in northern CaliforniaMonardella stoneana Elvin & A.C.Sanders - San Diego County in California, Baja CaliforniaMonardella × subglabra Hardham - California Monardella subserrata GreeneMonardella thymifolia Greene - Cedros Island in Baja CaliforniaMonardella undulata Benth. - coastal central CaliforniaMonardella venosa A.C.Sanders & Elvin - central CaliforniaMonardella viminea Greene - San Diego County in southern CaliforniaMonardella viridis Jeps. - northern San Francisco Bay area of California Monardella walwaamaxsia Elvin, R.B.Kelley & B.T.Drew
Horticulture and ecology
Most like a sunny, sharply drained site and can be attractive in a rock garden or pot in the alpine house if smaller species are selected. The taller ones can be used at the front of a dry sunny border. They have reasonable frost resistance, but resent dampness in winter. Propagate from seed or summer cuttings of perennial species, or by division of clumps.Monardella is a nectar plant for many Lepidoptera, including the endangered Myrtle's silverspot.
Several species are rare California endemics; two, the Merced monardella and Pringle's monardella, have not been seen in many decades and are presumed extinct.