# yerba buena (*Clinopodium douglasii*) Yerba buena is a lovely green plant that smells like mint! It's often found in gardens and along trails, making the air fresh and nice. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Good Herb, Mint Plant ![yerba buena](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Clinopodiumdouglasii.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clinopodiumdouglasii.jpg) ## Appearance The yerba buena is a low-growing, mat-forming plant with small, roundish to oval, bright green leaves. Its tiny, funnel-shaped flowers are typically white or pale lavender, often appearing in clusters where the leaves meet the stem. It creates a lush, spreading carpet of greenery. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Micromeria ## Interesting facts - Crush its leaves and you'll discover a refreshing scent, like mint candy! - It's an evergreen plant, meaning it stays green all year long, even in winter! - Native Americans have used this plant for centuries in traditional medicines. - Rubbing its leaves on bug bites can help soothe the itch and sting away. ## Special abilities - **Creeping Conqueror:** Yerba buena can spread its stems along the ground, taking root as it goes, which helps it quickly colonize new areas. - **Scented Shield:** This plant has aromatic leaves that release a minty fragrance, helping to deter some plant-eating pests and protect itself. - **Thirsty Survivor:** Yerba buena has adaptations that allow it to endure periods of dryness, helping it survive in less consistent watering conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Important native pollinator of its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on the leaves and stems occasionally. - **Eaten by:** [Brush rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brush-rabbit) (*Sylvilagus bachmani*) — Feeds on the foliage when other food is scarce. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or tasting plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify yerba buena? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is yerba buena? 10-30 cm ### How wide does yerba buena spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on yerba buena? 0.3-0.8 cm ### When does yerba buena bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is yerba buena edible? Yes ### Is yerba buena toxic? None ### What is yerba buena's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Gamble Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gamble-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Yerba Buena: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yerba-buena)