Description

This member of the mint family inhabits the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in California’s southeast. From there it may also be found in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. It is not found in the Mediterranean type climate that Clifornia is famous for. One feature that distinguishes its desert environment is that summer rain is relatively common. Like many plants from California’s deserts, desert lavender responds well to additional water in the summer, often setting a fresh bloom whenever the water is available. At the same time, it is extremely tolerant of drought, although it may lose leaves in the harshest of settings. Naturalized (i.e. no supplemental irrigation) plants in San Jose have thrived and looked good all year. The growth form is vase-shaped with dense foliage that is nearly white. The lavender flowers appear thickly in the spring ard intermittently through the summer. The ‘Silver Lining’ selection was introduced by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. It may be more frost tolerant than the species, which can die back somewhat with prolonged temperatures in the low 20’s F. My specimen here in San Jose has grown for many years without die back, but it is near the house which may moderate winter cold snaps.