Pycnanthemum californicum is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Sierra mint, mountain mint, and California mint.[1] [2]
The plant is endemic to California, where it is native to the Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges, Eastern Transverse Ranges, and Inner Northern California Coast Ranges.[1]
It grows at elevations of 500m-1900mm (1,600feet-6,200feetm), in chaparral, California oak woodland, California mixed evergreen forest, and Yellow pine forest habitats.[1]
Pycnanthemum californicum is a perennial herb growing erect 0.5m-1mm (01.6feet-03feetm) in height. It has hairless to fuzzy, aromatic herbage. The oppositely arranged leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval, each a few centimeters long.[2]
The inflorescences are located in clusters about the stem just above each upper pair of leaves. Each flower has a whitish upper lip and a purplish lower lip, sometimes with spots. The bloom period is June through September.[2]