Mountain coyote mint (Monardella odoratissima), an Oregon native plant.

I've had a very hard time growing this in my Portland garden -- it never survives its first winter. Interestingly, its California cousin M. villosa always comes back. I'm hoping this very happy coyote mint breaks the curse.

#botany #gardening #NativePlants #Oregon #Monardella #bloomscrolling

*Monardella villosa ssp. villosa* - Common Coyote Mint. This form is relatively common in the coast ranges from Southern Monterey County north to Sonoma County, and is also present (but fairly rare) in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

It smells delightful, and tastes like peppermint with a tiny hint of epazote. You can find it blooming in late summer, typically at the margins of grasslands and in rocky, exposed, but still somewhat mesic areas.

These photos are from Eagle Rock in Santa Cruz Co.
#bloomscrolling #CaliforniaNativePlants #botany #bayarea #nativeplants #monardellavillosvillosa #monardellavillosa #monardella #Plantsofsanfrancisco #florespondence #mint #santacruzcounty #plantsofthebayarea