Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa)
Coyote Mint is a highly fragrant, evergreen sub-shrub. It is native to drier chaparral and coastal sage shrublands found from Southern Oregon south throughout California and parts of Northern Nevada. Despite evolving in these drier environments Coyote Mint does very well in the wetter regions of Northern Oregon! It is very drought tolerant, making it perfect for rock gardens and xeriscaped gardens. In extreme drought conditions without supplemental water Coyote Mint can go Summer dormant. On warm/hot Summer days it's foliage exudes the most delicious aroma - sort of a minty desert musk smell. Amazing! It would make an wonderful infusion for soaps and body scrubs! Coyote Mint's Lavender, nectar rich flowers are a big butterfly draw in addition to attracting native bees and hummingbirds! Coyote Mint grows up to 2 ft tall and up to 3 ft wide and prefers full sun-part shade. It can be grown successfully in containers, can tolerate some aggressive plant partners, and is deer resistant!
They're great companion plants for Clarkias, ground cover Manzanitas and Ceanothus, Blue-eyed Grass, California poppies, Yarrow, and Hummingbird Fuschias and many more. Seed packet contains 60 seeds and germination instructions are included.
Coyote Mint at a glance
- Average growth dimensions - 2 ft tall x 3 ft wide
- Dormancy - Evergreen + partly summer deciduous (drought response)
- Plant type - Perennial herb/sub shrub
- Sun - Full sun - part sun
- Water - Low - very low
- Flowering time - June - early November
- Flower color - Purple, lavender, pink
- Soil preference - Variety of soils including rocky, clay, and serpentine