Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) is a low-growing evergreen perennial with a robust, mounding form and attractive minty fragrance. Its fuzzy, gray-green foliage complement light purple, pom-pom-like flowers.
A butterfly favorite, Coyote Mint blooms from spring into summer when it also supports many bees and hummingbirds.
We love Coyote Mint planted in large groupings, particularly along pathways and in the front of border gardens. Coyote Mint also performs well on slopes where soil is well draining.
It is drought tolerant; however, bloom and foliage quality improve with some summer irrigation, especially inland.
In traditional medicine, the leaves are made into a tea that treats upset stomach and other ailments.
Monardella villosa - Coyote Mint
Optimal Growth Conditions
- Mature Height: 1 - 2 feet tall
- Mature Width: 3 - 5 feet wide
- Sun: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Water: Low
- Soil Drainage: Fast, Medium
Geographic Appropriateness
- USDA Zone: Zones 7 - 10
- Sunset Zone: Zones 7 - 9, 14 - 24
- Native Sites: Rocky slopes, temporary drainages, and sunny openings in chaparral or woodlands
Additional Landscaping Information
- Characteristics: California Native, Flowering, Evergreen, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Groundcover
- Special Uses: Containers, Deer resistant, Lawn alternative