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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Monardella odoratissima

Monardella odoratissima Benth.

Mountain Monardella, Alpine Mountainbalm, Coyote Mint, Mountain Pennyroyal

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: mood

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Alpine Mountainbalm or Coyote Mint is a variable species with many subspecies across its range. A grayish, aromatic plant with erect, bunched, leafy stems bearing opposite leaves and topped by small, whitish to pale purple or pink flowers in a dense head. In general, its stems form large mats about 1 ft. high. In bloom, these are covered with flower heads, ranging in color from near white to bright blue-purple. The paired leaves are highly fragrant.

Coyote Mint has many races in the West, varying in density of foliage hairs, breadth of heads, and relative length of bracts and calyx.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Nutlets.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , NV , OR , WA
Native Distribution: N. ID to e. WA, s. to NM, AZ & CA
Native Habitat: Wet or dry, rocky, forest openings from 3500-11,000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Sandy soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by cutting, divisions or seed. Seed sown fresh does not need treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACU			UPL				UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Monardella odoratissima in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Monardella odoratissima in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Monardella odoratissima

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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