Monardella undulata var. frutescens

photos:Eric Stanger

This rare, California native bee-balm is found growing in the dunes along the California coastline. Able to grow in pure sand, it makes a beautiful picture growing with the golden yellow primroses of Camissonia cheiranthifolia (“Beach Primrose”) while both of the plants thrive in sand, they also look great (maybe better!) in garden soil. Monardella undulata grows to 1’ tall with branching stems, each topped with several purple “bee-balm” type flowers much loved by butterflies. While it’s naturally a self-sowing annual, it acts as a perennial with a little Summer water. Ranked as rare by the California Native Plant Society since 1997.

Annie