Gardening sheet trichostema lanceolatum
- 1. Vinegar Plant – Trichostema lanceolatum
(tri-KOS-te-ma lan-see-oh-LAY-tum)
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Pacific Coast from OR to Baja, currently in foothills, but range probably to coast in past;
dry, open places in coastal shrublands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodlands.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous annual wildflower mature height:1-2 ft. mature width: 2-4 ft.
Herbaceous annual with branches arising from a base. Leaves thin, light green becoming silvery,
lance-shaped. Foliage strongly scented like vinegar or camphor – may be disagreeable to some,
pleasant to others.
Long bloom period during the dry season (June/July through Nov.) Blooms are blue
to lavender, tube-shaped and arranged along one side to the stems. Plants have a mass of blooms
at one time – very showy.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Great for the habitat garden. Probably best mixed with other native
wildflowers and grasses in a natural prairie/meadow. Can be grown in mixed beds that get a
summer dry period. Nice addition to dry rock garden or along sunny walls. Attractive foliage.
Important medicinal plant, used by Native Californians for respiratory and other ailments.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native blue summer-flowering annuals.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat, particularly for native bees.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun
Any, including clays; any local pH.
Moist soils in winter/spring while plant is growing; very little to no summer water
(Zone 1-2).
None.
Management:
Easy to grow. Will reseed on bare ground.
Deer-resistant.
Propagation: from seed: plant in prepared soil from fall through early spring (with the rains).
Gently rake in seed.
Collect seed in fall after it ripens. Be sure seed is dry if storing.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 10, 13
1/23/08
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