Clinopodium douglasii: Yerba Buena – Native Mint with Delicate Fragrance

Clinopodium douglasii – Yerba Buena

Clinopodium douglasii, commonly known as Yerba Buena ("good herb" in Spanish), is a delicate, trailing perennial native to western North America. It features slender, square stems lined with pairs of small, round, toothed, mint-scented leaves. In spring to summer, it produces tiny, tubular, white to pale lavender flowers in the leaf axils. It forms a low, spreading mat, rooting as it goes.

Yerba Buena thrives in partial to deep shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. It is a charming ground cover for woodland gardens, shaded rockeries, and under native shrubs. The leaves make a delicious, soothing mint tea. Historically used by indigenous peoples and early settlers. It is not aggressive, weaving politely among other shade plants. A lovely, useful native for the shade garden.

Plant Profile