There is a reason this plant is called "ordoratissima." It has a strong wonderful fragrance. Sometimes it seems to be a very clean mint smell, much like pennyroyal, other times it seems lemony. It is in the mint family, so having a strong smell is expected, but this one is especially nice. Grows in full sun to part shade. Easy to grow evergreen perennial sprawls on the ground in a picturesque manner. In bloom and for sale now at the UC Botanical Garden.
I've listed 12 species of butterflies in 5 families that get nectar from Mountain Monardella flowers, and I suppose there are more. Anise Swallowtail, Milbert's Tortoiseshell and several fritillaries were among them.
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