About Monardella odoratissima Benth.
Monardella odoratissima Benth. is a subshrub that can be distinguished from Monardella villosa by its growth characteristics. It reaches a height of 10 to 45 cm (4 in to 1 ft 6 in). Plants are generally sparsely hairy, and occasionally have sparse stalked, cone-shaped glandular hairs.
Its untoothed leaves measure 15 to 50 mm (0.6 to 2.0 in) long and 5 to 18 mm (0.2 to 0.7 in) wide. Leaf color ranges from green to ashy gray, often with a purple tinge. Leaves may be either sparsely or densely hairy, and glandular hairs on the leaf undersides grow in pits.
Inflorescences are flower clusters that are usually 12 to 28 mm (0.5 to 1.1 in) across, and may reach up to 37 mm (1.5 in) across. One or multiple inflorescences can grow on each main stem. The inflorescence has erect bracts that form a cup-like structure; these bracts are pale greenish, or tinged purple to rose. Each flower has sepals 6 to 11 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) long that are densely hairy or woolly. Petals are white, lavender, or purple, and measure 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long.
When defined broadly to include Monardella villosa, this species occurs in western North America. Its range extends from British Columbia in the north, through Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, down to Arizona, California, and New Mexico in the south. It grows in many mountain ranges of Northern California, including the Klamath Mountains, North California Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, White Mountains, and Inyo Mountains.
This species is easy to grow as a garden plant. While the genus Monardella belongs to the mint family, most species do not grow from runners, but can still be propagated easily from cuttings. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies, which serve as this plant's main pollinator. It will grow in conditions from full sun to medium shade. Plants can grow sprawling, so light pruning in late fall or early winter encourages a bushier growth habit. It blooms profusely at any point from April through August. Since plants produce many flowers, they look best when spent blooms are deadheaded.
