Monkeyflower savory is a perennial sub-shrub native to coastal California from San Francisco Bay to the San Gabriel Mountains. It grows 1-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, with slender mint-scented branches and wavy-edged leaves. From summer to fall, it produces showy red or red-orange flowers similar to monkeyflowers or penstemons that attract hummingbirds. It thrives in part shade and moist soil, making an attractive flowering plant for shady gardens.

1. *Monkeyflower savory – Clinopodium mimuloides (kly-no-PO-dee-um mim-yoo-LO-i-dees)
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Coastal CA from the San Francisco Bay to the San Gabriel Mtns.; moist places, stream banks, seeps, in chaparral and woodland habitats to 5500 ft. elevation.
Growth characteristics: perennial/sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 2-4 ft. Herbaceous perennial becoming half-woody with time. Slender, hairy branches have a pleasant minty aroma. Evergreen with water; drought deciduous otherwise. Fast growing. Leaves simple with wavy or toothed margins. Slowly spreading via rhizomes.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms summer-fall – may bloom off and on from June-Oct. Flowers are red or red-orange, showy and somewhat similar to Mimulus or the red Penstemons.
Uses in the garden: Useful flowering perennial for part-shade – under trees, north-facing slopes and other shady areas. Good under oaks. Fragrant leaves are edible – make nice iced tea. Good choice in hummingbird garden. Does well in pots, planters, containers. Lovely with Heucheras; provides early bloom when grown with CA fuschia (Epilobium species).
Sensible substitute for: Non-native perennials.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird habitat plant.
Requirements:
Element
Requirement
Sun
Best in part-shade (morning sun or dappled shade under trees); shady OK
Soil
Just about any local soil.
Water
Occasional to moderate summer water; Water Zones 1-2 to 2-3; taper off in Sept.
Fertilizer
Low needs; ½ strength fertilizer in spring for container plants.
Other
Thin organic mulch layer – leaf litter is great.
Management: Prune back to 2-4 inches in late fall after blooming ceases. Pinch (if desired) during growth to encourage fuller growth.
Propagation: from seed: fresh best by cuttings: try semi-hard in summer or fall.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 3, 8, 46 10/29/14
* not native to western Los Angeles County, but a CA native © Project SOUND