San Luis Obispo Monardella

Description

Monardella frutescens is a perennial herb producing several purple stems. The thin, narrow, wavy-edged leaves are 1 to 5 centimeters long and borne in clusters along the stem. The inflorescence is a head of several flowers blooming in a cup of papery purplish to straw-colored bracts. The flowers are purple to pink in color. This species sometimes hybridizes with its relative, Monardella crispa, which shares its habitat.