Desert lavender is a woody shrub native to desert regions of the southwestern United States. It grows 3-10 feet tall and 5-8 feet wide, with gray bark and powdery gray to white scented leaves. It blooms sporadically in spring with small silver-blue flowers. Desert lavender is drought tolerant once established and can be used as a foundation plant, hedge, or in mixed beds. It attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees.

1. * Desert Lavender – Hyptis emoryi
(HIP (HYPE)-tis EM-or-ee-eye)
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Southern Mojave Desert & Sonoran Desert from NV west to CA and south to N. Mexico;
common in gravelly or sandy washes and canyons below 3000'.
woody shrub
mature height: 3-10+ ft.
mature width: 5-8 ft.
Large woody shrub, evergreen with some water. Size and shape (erect or more spreading) depends
on available water; in the wild this is a slow-growing, compact plant. Bark is gray. Simple leaves
are gray to white, powdery-looking, give off a pleasant, minty scent when crushed.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms off and on depending on rains, but primarily in spring. Flowers are small,
silver-blue, in clusters at ends of branches. Scented of lavender – hence the common name.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Often used as a foundation plant or in mixed beds with other desert plants –
has the look of a desert shrub. Does not do well near the coast. Makes a great informal hedge or
screen. Be sure to plant where you can enjoy the scents and the insect pollinators. Leaves can be
used as a spice or to make an herbal tea. The cultivar ‘Silver Lining’ has very white foliage.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native large shrubs; a good water-wise alternative shrub.
Excellent pollinator habitat: attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, native bees and others.
Smaller birds may nest in this shrub.
Attracts:
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Requirement
Fertilizer
Other
Full sun. Takes reflected heat, so good for hot, south or west-facing walls.
Well-drained; sandy or rocky best.
Low requirements once established. Best in Zone 1-2 (very occasional summer
water). Suggest no fall water.
None.
Quite low maintenance if give only occasional summer water. Can be sheared to
In areas subject to frosts, prune after end of frost season.
Management:
shape.
Propagation: from seed: in spring
by cuttings: probably from hard- and semi-soft wood.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14
11/29/10
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. Co.
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