Spread this Mint

I have two adorable little native mints in my garden.  They are staples in my "scents of California" garden tour.  They spread by rooting as their long branches creep across the ground; they are not invasive like typical garden mints.  They look great and smell delicious.  They make nice tea too.  I have to squint to tell them apart.

The northern mint, Yerba Buena, in its frisky mode (up off the ground a bit), closeup with Strawberry.

Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii, formerly Satureja douglasii) needs a more original name.  It grows from British Columbia to SoCal.  It creeps very flat along the ground, occasionally reaching up a couple inches when happy.  Its leaves are smooth, and shinier than its southern brother.

The southern mint, San Miguel Savory.

The southern San Miguel Savory, or Shrubby Yerba Buena  (Clinopodium chandleri, formerly Satureja chandleri) is found in Southern California and Baja.  It has a federal "rare and endangered" designation.  Whatever you call it, this is one native that you can feel good about spreading!  It creeps too, but reaches up a little further when happy. I ts leaves are less smooth, and more deeply veined, than its northern brother.  It seems hardier and more vigorous to me, but then I live in its range.  It is more drought tolerant, as you might expect.  Here's a video!

The southern mint, chandleri, happily covering a mound in front of Bay Laurel and Island Bush Snapdragon, after only a year in the garden.

Both mints may fade away in a dry summer, but come back fine after some rain.  They want half to full shade and regular moisture. (That means watering once every week or two, guys, not swamp conditions.)  And unlike many natives, they would prefer some organic matter in their soil, or mulch.  In my garden they fare better than the more common Monardella.  Their little white spring flowers are cute but not showy.

Tiny mint flowers.

 They are great choices to drape over a pot in the shade, or to grow in more than half shade from a tree or building.

The southern mint spilling over a pot with Island Alum Root (Heuchera maxima)– another rare native.

I plan to make lots of cuttings next fall to share with my friends. They are quite easy to propagate, and tolerant of garden water so a good choice for a "transitional" garden.   The scent is unique, delicious, and (for me) reminiscent of Palo Santo (Bursera graveloens.)  Divine!

Put in your request for a 4" pot from me next fall. (Or just buy it at Tree of Life.)  You can grow a rare and endangered plant that survives suburban gardens.  Then show off your rare native plant to visitors, break off a sprig, and fix them a cup of rare and delicious herb tea.

Enjoying mint tea in the garden.

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