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Click on the image thumbnail to the right to enlarge -››› Monardella linoides ssp. viminea - Lamiaceae - 'Willowy Monardella,' 'San Diego Monardella.' - Monardella is an almost exclusively California genus from the mint family. They entice many to attempt to to grow them in their garden after seeing and smelling them in the wild. This species is graced with narrow, very aromatic leaves and many long-lasting inch wide heads of lavender flowers. It flowers in midsummer sunshine while other plants are drying down for the summer drought, and as such is often visited by bees and butterflies. This native of the coastal canyons of San Diego is endangered in it's native range by suburban expansion and freeway building but luckily is among the easier Monardellas in cultivation. The seeds for this planting were collected from cultivated plants, and is a good opportunity to help secure this species by spreading it in cultivation.Well-drained, manure-poor soil and a sunny site are the keys for success with Willowy Monardella, and although noted as being drought tolerant, it will do better with infrequent summer water and look better as well. Despite it's mild native habitat, it will indeed tolerate frosts of several degrees. |
