Plant of the Month (July) : Southern mountain monardella – Monardella australis

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis) - Mother Nature's Garden of Health

July is our peak butterfly season, so we like to feature a ‘butterfly plant’ for our July Plant of the Month.  One of the plants that’s causing quite a stir is the Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis - pronounced ‘mon-ar-DEL-uh  aw-STRAY-lis’).  It’s been blooming up a storm recently in the Garden of Health.

Like many California natives, Southern mountain monardella has engendered some recent taxonomic debate.  Although proposed as a separate species by Leroy Abrams in 1912, it was often classified as a sub-species of the Mountain mondardella, Monardella odoratissima (ssp. australis).  Monardella odoratissima demonstrates variability throughout its wide range (from British Columbia to California and Arizona), and includes several sub-species.  The Southern mountain monardella was thought to be just the S. California variant of a wide wide-ranging plant.  

In 2009 and 2014-15, AC Sanders & RA Elvin argued for species status for Monardella australis and proposed five sub-species. [1] As of now, Southern mountain monardella is accepted as a separate species.  However, Monardella australis can still be found in the nursery trade as Monardella odoratissima ssp. australis, or sometimes just as Monardella odoratissima.   Confusing – but that’s the nature of science!

Southern mountain mint (also known commonly as Southern monardella, Southern coyote mint and Desert mint), grows in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Ranges (eastern Transverse Ranges) in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties of S. California.  It rarely grows below about 4500 ft. (1500 m.) in the wild and can be found as high as 10,000 ft. (3000 m.).   It grows on rocky slopes and forest openings in Yellow pine and Red fir forests.   It perhaps seems an unlikely candidate for lower elevation gardens; and yet it appears to do well there.

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis)

 

Southern mountain monardella is a part-woody perennial or small sub-shrub, with a mature size of 1-2 ft. tall by 1-2+ ft. wide (30-60 cm.). Like many local sub-shrubs, it starts out with a few slender, wand-like stems.  As it gets older – and additional branches fill in the shape – it becomes mounded to somewhat sprawling. If you know the San Diego Willowy monardella (Monardella linoides ssp. viminea or Monardella viminea), the shape is somewhat similar.   Our plant in the Garden of Health is young (2 years) and hasn’t yet reached its full potential; it’s still in the gangly, adolescent stage.

 

 

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis) - foliage

 

The foliage of Monardella australis is a soft, light- or gray-green.  The leaves are lance-shaped to narrowly ovate, and may be slightly folded in a dry garden (see above).  The margins are entire or sometimes toothed.  The foliage is drought-deciduous; but the plant leafs out again given a little water. 

Both foliage and flowers are highly aromatic.  To our tastes, this is one of the nicest mint flavors among the California natives.  Clean and distinctive, it’s a flavor destined for kitchen and potpourri.  A tea from fresh or dried leaves is refreshing – and can help settle an upset stomach. We’ve used its flavor in cookies, cakes and candies – and gotten rave reviews!    To learn how to make a kitchen extract from this and other mints (oh, so simple!) see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2016/04/california-gourmet-making-flavored.html

 

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis)
 - flowering plant

 

Monardellas are in the Mint family (Lamiaceae).  As expected, their flowers are grouped in ball-like clusters (inflorescences) around the stems.  But the Monardellas are showier of flower than the common culinary mints.  That’s just one reason they have a place of honor in native and traditional gardens, alike.

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis) -
 flowers

 

Southern mountain monardella has flowers that range from pale pink to pastel lavender and are hairy.  The bracts at the base of the inflorescence are green and leafy; those surrounding individual flowers are pink-green.   The flowers are about ¾ inch (2 cm) long.  The overall impression is of delicate pastels – like an impressionist painting (possibly Monet?).  This is not the showiest of the native Monardellas – that honor likely goes to Monardella villosa – but the flowers are definitely charming.

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis)
 with Gulf Fritillary butterfly

 

Like many in the Mint family, Monardella australis attracts its share of pollinators, including bees (native and European Honeybee), pollinator flies and especially the butterflies. In fact, this species seems to attract both the small (particularly the Skippers) and larger butterflies.  We’ve seen Gulf Fritillary, Western Tiger Swallowtail, the Whites and the Ladies happily nectaring on our Monardella.   If you need an addition to your butterfly garden, this might be the plant.

Monardella australis can be grown in most garden soils.  Though its natural medium is rocky, it seems perfectly happy with sandy soil, clays & clay loams.  As long as your soil drains reasonably, this plant does fine.   It seems to do better with part shade in Western L.A. County, though you can grow it in sun with irrigation.   Even when established, it looks best with occasional summer water; perhaps every several weeks in clays - weekly in sands.  In nature it gets from 1-4 inches of rain in the summer.  So if it’s raining in the local mountains, consider giving your plants a little water.   Taper off watering in late August or September.

Pruning Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis)

 

To keep Monardella australis compact and mounded, a yearly pruning is recommended.   Prune each branch back by about 1/3, making sure to leave at least 3-4 sprouting centers.  You can prune in summer or wait until late fall.  Either way, we like to wait until the plant is producing new leaves; that way we know we aren’t pruning back into old, non-productive wood.

 

Southern mountain monardella (Monardella australis)
seedhead ready for harvest

 

If you prune (or deadhead) in summer, you may want to try propagating Monardella australis from seed or stem cuttings.  If propagating from seed, let the seedheads dry on the plant, collect, then separate the tiny seeds from the chaffy bracts (the bracts form tan seed capsules).  Try rubbing the bracts over a metal sieve or piece of screen; the seeds and smaller chaff will fall through.  You can then save the seeds for planting in winter.  Fresh seed should sprout with no pre-treatment.  The seedlings are very small – we’ll try to post some pictures this winter.

We haven’t propagated this plant from cuttings, but will give it a try in a few weeks.  We’ll update this posting with our experiences. 

Southern mountain monardella can be used in several ways in the garden.  It’s sometimes used as a groundcover plant under trees.   If you have an herb garden, that’s another option.  You might also plant it in a dryish, permanent position around the edges of a vegetable garden.  It looks pretty as a foreground plant in mixed beds.  And it would be happy in a large container (at least 18 inches diameter and 24 inches deep).  An unglazed terra cotta pot would work well; and you’ll need to water at least weekly in summer.

 

Umber Skipper (Poanes melane) on Southern mountain
 monardella (Monardella australis)

 

In summary, Monardella australis is a mint that’s unique to our local mountain ranges; it’s truly a part of what makes S. California so special.  It is an excellent butterfly plant and can be planted for this reason alone.  It has a lovely fragrance, making it a choice plant for the herb and kitchen garden.   We hope you can find a place for this little gem in your garden.   Then sit back and enjoy the butterflies!

 



Fiery Skipper on Southern mountain monardella
 (Monardella australis)

 

 

For a gardening information sheet see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/gardening-sheet-monardella-australis

For more pictures of this plant see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/monardella-australis-web-show

For plant information sheets on other native plants see: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html

 

 

We welcome your comments (below).  You can also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com

 

Thread-waisted Wasps – the genus Sphex

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) on native buckwheat

Gardeners are learning to appreciate the diversity of native pollinators, in part due to the activities of National Pollinator Week (the 3^rd week in June).  To learn more about pollinators in general, see our June 2013 posting (http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html).

Among the warm weather pollinators are the wasps.  While many gardeners associate wasps with nasty stings, many are mild mannered and rarely sting humans.  Most are true garden heroes, functioning not only as pollinators but as predators of unwanted garden creatures. They should be welcomed, not feared, by local gardeners.

The insect Family Sphecidae – the Thread-waisted Wasps – includes digger wasps, mud daubers, sand wasps and sphecid wasps.  These insects have distinctive long, stalked abdomens, giving the body a ‘thread-waisted’ or ‘wasp-waisted’ appearance.   We plan to write several blog posts about this interesting – and locally common – group of insects.

Female Burrowing Wasp (Sphex lucae) 

 

Most Thread-waisted wasps nest in the ground, usually in areas that have sparse or no vegetation.  Most are solitary nesters. Adults feed on floral nectar, honeydew, and body fluids of their prey. Their larvae feed on the paralyzed bodies of a variety of arthropods including spiders, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Adults provision the nests prior to laying eggs.  

The taxonomy of the Family Sphecidae has been recently revised [1].   It currently contains about 130 genera and over 700 species worldwide.   The Family is divided into Sub-families and Tribes, based on similarities in morphology (appearance) and DNA [1].  The Tribe Sphecini (in the Sub-family Sphecinae) includes two genera (Isodontia; Sphex). The Sphecini are large, strong flyers, active during the warm/hot part of the year.  Several species of Isodontia and Sphex are known to visit S. California gardens, particularly those with native plants. So, you likely have seen them in local gardens.

Two Sphex species are well-documented from S. California. Both Sphex ichneumoneus (Great Golden Digger Wasp; Great Golden Sand Wasp) and Sphex lucae (Burrowing Wasp) are seen routinely in Mother Nature’s Backyard (Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, Gardena, CA).  We’ve had great fun photographing these large insects; they are pretty and interesting to watch.   Here are some interesting facts about these two wasps.

 

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)

 

Sphex ichneumoneus - Great Golden Digger Wasp/Great Golden Sand Wasp

Native to the Western Hemisphere (from southern Canada to Central/South America and the Caribbeans), the Great Golden Digger Wasp is impressive, indeed [2].  Usually between one-half inch and one inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm.) in length (sometimes even larger), they are distinguished by the golden pubescence (hairs) on their black head and thorax, their reddish orange legs, and partly reddish orange bodies.  Half of the back segment of their abdomen is also black; the front segment and legs are a conspicuous reddish-orange.  The scientific name is pronounced ‘SFEX  ick-new-MOW-nee-us’.

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) on Red buckwheat

 

Great Goldens are not uncommon in parks, gardens, wild lands and vacant lots; in short, where ever there are flowering plants, grasshoppers/katydids and bare, sandy ground for nest sites.  They can be seen in warm weather, usually from May to September in S. California.  We’ve seen them primarily in June and July in our area – they are particularly busy in the dry, sunny days of early summer.

While large, these wasps are not aggressive unless handled, swatted, or otherwise threatened.  Approach them slowly and respectfully; watch and photograph, but don’t touch.  They are wary creatures, but tend to go about their business if left alone. They are very active; you’ll probably have to photograph them with a telephoto lens.  For more tips on photographing garden insects see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2015/07/life-friendly-gardening-photographing.html  

Great Goldens are so large and colorful that they are easy to spot. They twitch their wings, making them appear to flash rapidly - a behavior that attracts your attention.  The adults feed on flower nectar and sap.  They utilize a wide variety of flowers.   We see them mostly on plants with many small flowers, particularly the summer-flowering native buckwheats, yarrow and milkweeds. 

 

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
on Red buckwheat

 

Great Goldens (and other Sphex) are solitary insects: they do not share the responsibilities of provisioning for and raising their young. However, dozens or even hundreds of females have been seen nesting in the same area.  Some favored sites are used year after year [2].  Adult females hunt/collect crickets, grasshoppers and katydids to serve as food for their larvae. Sphex ichneumoneus wasps track their prey, hence the name ‘ichneumoneus’, Greek for tracker.

The nesting behavior of Sphex ichneumoneus is well documented, in large part due to the careful studies of several entomologists.  For a detailed description see reference 3, below.  In late spring or summer, each female constructs from 1 to 10 nests.  The nests are dug in bare sandy soil; in local gardens they are often in pathways or other areas covered by decomposed granite (DG). 

The main tunnel is one-half inch (1.25 cm) in diameter and four to six inches (10-15 cm) deep.  From one to seven brood cells radiate off the end of the main tunnel.  These are where eggs are laid and larval provisions are stored.  The entrance to the nest is covered up (to hide it) each time the female leaves.

Great Goldens hunt for crickets (Gryllidae), grasshoppers (Trimerotropis) and katydids (Tettigoniidae) to serve as food for their young.  The prey are paralyzed with toxins in her sting.  Smaller prey are then picked up and flown to the nest.  Larger prey are dragged along the ground by their antennas, which the Great Golden grasps with her mouth [3].

All parts of the nesting behavior are ritualized; they are repeated again and again with very little variation.  Upon reaching the nest with her prey, the Great Golden first inspects the burrow before dragging the prey inside.  The prey – an average of four per brood cell – remain alive but paralyzed until eaten by the larvae.  One egg is deposited per prey and the eggs hatch several days after being laid. 

Great Goldens have but a single generation per year.  The larvae spend the winter in the underground nests.  They emerge as adults the following spring, and the cycle goes on. 

Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
on Red buckwheat

 

For more pictures of the Great Golden Digger Wasp see:

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/hymenopt/Sphex%20ichneumoneus.htm

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=dl&where-taxon=Sphex+ichneumoneus&where-lifeform=specimen_tag&rel-lifeform=ne&rel-taxon=begins+with&where-lifeform=Animal

http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/85362-Sphex-ichneumoneus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMC1VzZvd0s

http://bugguide.net/node/view/414

 

Female Burrowing Wasp (Sphex lucae) on 'Island Pink' yarrow

 

Sphex lucae - Burrowing Wasp

The Burrowing Wasp, AKA the Orange Katydid Wasp, is another Sphex species we see this time of year. It is sometimes also known as Fernaldina lucae.  The scientific name is pronounced ‘SFEX  LOO-cheh’ (or LEEOO-chuh).  The species was named by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure (1829-1905), a Swiss mineralogist and entomologist, and a prolific taxonomist [4].  He was particularly interested in the solitary wasps.

Sphex lucae is native to Western N. America from southern British Columbia, Canada, to the U.S. Southwest (AZ, NM, UT, TX, ID, CO, OK), California, Baja California and northern Mexico [5, 6].  As with Sphex ichneumoneus, the Burrowing Wasp is found where flowers, katydids and bare ground are available. 

Burrowing Wasp (Sphex lucae) - female

 

The Burrowing Wasp exhibits sexual dimorphism; the male and female of the species look different. The male is smaller (3/4 to 1 inch; 2.2-2.5 cm) in length, slender and all black with violet reflections on the wings.   The females are slightly larger (to 30 mm; 1.2 inches) and more robust than the males.  They are also more colorful: black with a red abdomen, and yellowish or violaceous wings [6].   Unfortunately, we have mostly photos of the females at present – we’ll try to remedy that soon.  Note that face, legs and thorax are completely black in this species.

Burrowing Wasp (Sphex lucae) - male

 

The nesting behavior of Sphex lucae is similar to that of Sphex ichneumoneus.  The prey are primarily Katydids.   Adults nectar on small flowers – native buckwheats and yarrow in our garden, but also acacias, Melilotus and likely other species.

Males are known to spend the night in clusters or ‘sleeping groups’ [6, 7].  The location may change from night to night, but groups tend to remain together, sleeping in sheltered places (in flowers; under leaves; under rock ledges).

 

Burrowing Wasp (Sphex lucae) - female - on Dune Backwheat

 

For more pictures of Sphex lucae see:

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/hymenopt/Sphex%20lucae.htm

http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=9201

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/sphexlucae/interesting/

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOL6JcyZ_MY

 

http://bugguide.net/node/view/118010/bgimage

 

 

In summary, the Sphex wasps are interesting and colorful additions to the garden.  They are mild-mannered, and their behavior is fascinating to watch.  So enjoy them in the wild and in your garden – and, please, don’t get out the can of Raid and kill them.  They are garden heroes, important to the garden ecosystem and important parts of our natural heritage.

Like this posting?  See our other insect posts at: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2016/07/insect-postings-mother-natures-backyard.html

 

________________________

 

1.       http://www.calacademy.org/scientists/projects/catalog-of-sphecidae

2.       http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Sphex+ichneumoneus

3.       http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-54_great_golden_digger_wasp.htm

4.       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Louis_Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_de_Saussure

5.       http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/entomology/entomology_resources/hymenoptera/sphecidae/family_group_names_and_classification.pdf

6.       http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2011/05/wasp-wednesday-sphex-lucae.html

7.       http://aesa.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/2/148

 

 

We encourage your comments below.   If you have questions about insects or other gardening topics you can e-mail us at :  mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com

 

 

Sustainable Living: Foraging for Native Plant Foods in Your Own Backyard

Sustainable foraging for native dye plants in the garden

 

Interest in the edible, medicinal and other uses of native plants has grown dramatically in the past five years. Mother Nature’s Backyard has played a role in this. Our ‘California Gourmet’ and ‘Garden Crafts’ series specifically promote the use of California native plants.

Native plants play an important role in living sustainably.  They furnish habitat, create shade, improve the soil and provide edible and craft materials.   To put it simply, California natives are remarkable additions to the garden ecosystem. But it’s important to remember that these plants are also critical components of natural ecosystems.

The increased interest in edible and medicinal native plants creates several unintended consequences.   Most important is the overuse of natural stands of native plants growing in the wild.   This is not just a problem in California; over-collecting of native plants is a critical issue world-wide, leading to the extinction of entire plant species.

While some California native plants are still common, others are rare – even endangered - in the wild.  Humans have played a key role, primarily by destroying habitat (building houses, roads, etc.).  Global climate change is putting further pressures on wild plants and animal populations. 

To stress wild populations further by wild foraging is unsound.  In fact, there are legal, health/safety, practical and ethical/stewardship reasons to limit wildland foraging.  For a thoughtful article on this see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-novick/forage-in-the-garden-not_b_10211746.html.  

We urge that you consider foraging in your own garden rather than in the wild.  A thoughtfully planned garden can supply many edibles and loads of materials for garden crafts.  In fact, you may have an excess.  Consider swapping ‘produce’ with others to increase the variety of materials available to you.  Get to know which weeds are edible or useful; knowing that a weed is edible can turn a chore into an interesting adventure.

There are many reasons to forage your own garden rather wild foraging.  Here are just a few:

 

Legal reasons

1. You own the resource. Collecting on private property or on protected government land can be risky business, particularly without the proper permits.   Trespassing and stealing can lead to fines – even jail time.   Safer to forage in your garden.
2. Rare species, purchased from reputable sources, are legal to own and plant in your garden. Wildland endangered/ threatened species are often legally protected.  They cannot be taken, removed, destroyed, collected etc. in the wild.  You can harvest (responsibly) the rare species you grow in your garden.  Just be sure to purchase plants from reputable sources only.  Don’t risk the legal consequences of planting a plant that’s been illegally harvested.

Health & safety reasons

1.    You know you are using the correct species. Field foraging can result in mistaking a toxic for a safe species.  Poisonings – even deaths – from eating wild foraged plants occur each year.  Purchase and clearly label garden plants, making sure that proper precautions are taken with hazardous species.   You wouldn’t want to feed your family something that might make them sick!

2.    You know how the resource has been managed. Pesticides, herbicides, pollution, etc. can affect the safety of plants ingested as food/medicines or used in craft projects.  You can manage these exposures in your garden; you have no clue about them when you wild forage.

Practical reasons

1. Ease of access. It’s so much easier (and sometimes safer) to harvest plant materials in the garden than the wild. 
2. You can pick edibles, medicinals and craft materials at the ‘peak of freshness’.   The taste, appearance and effectiveness of many materials varies with the season and the weather.   Grow source plants in your garden, where you can easily monitor them and harvest at the optimal time.
3. You can grow enough of the species you enjoy.  We all use our plants differently.  By planting just the species you use, you can make best use of your garden’s space.  A natural dyes enthusiast will plant different plants from someone with an interest in medicinal plants.    Choose plants for their useful properties in addition to their beauty.
4. Useful plants provide added value to your garden.  Berry bushes, vines and trees can provide habitat and shade in addition to food.  Dye plants and edibles can be pretty and water-wise.  Useful native plants can stabilize a slope and improve soil nutrients and physical properties.  Useful native plants provide these ‘added services’ in the wild; why not in your garden?
5. Harvesting home-grown materials gives purpose to your garden.  There’s nothing like the satisfaction of growing your own food and other useful products.  Working in a useful garden provides purpose to all who participate.  Gardening – and garden foraging – are good, wholesome family activities!     And they are often fun as well!

Ethical/stewardship reasons

1. You don’t over-tax rare natural resources.  Even when we each take just a little, if there are many foragers, scarce wild plants can disappear.  Wild resources are the sacred heritage of us all; they are a gift to pass on to future generations.  Admire plants in the wild; observe them, photograph them and enjoy them.  But forage California natives in your own garden; it’s the responsible – and ethical – thing to do.
2. You can manage garden plants using sound ecological principles.  Since you control the resources, you can manage them wisely.  You can harvest just enough, at the right time, to sustain the plants. 
3. No need to waste time & gas getting there.  If you worry about scarce resources and air pollution, garden foraging is the most economical and earth-friendly option.
4. Passing along an ethic of sustainability to the next generation. The planet is getting more crowded – that’s obvious.  To adapt, we need to adopt and promote sustainable living practices.  Be an inspiration: live sustainably, grow sensible plants (like local natives) and forage in your own backyard.   Your children, grandchildren, students and others need to learn these skills.   Be a teacher of sustainable life skills – that’s important!

Wild greens foraged sustainably from Mother Nature's
 Backyard garden.

 

 

 

We welcome your comments (below).  You can also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com