San Diego yerba buena
Clinopodium chandleri
Last reviewed: October 2026
San Diego yerba buena (Clinopodium chandleri) is a perennial shrub native to CA. It blooms in April, May, and June. The flowers draw small native bees.
Toxicity unknown
San Diego yerba buena (Clinopodium chandleri) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA
Pollinators
small native bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
A small, aromatic, mint-family subshrub with narrow leaves and pale lavender-white flowers scattered along the stems. Naturally rare, it grows on dry, rocky slopes with a low, open habit.
Growing San Diego yerba buena
Grow San Diego yerba buena in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Its scattered flowers offer nectar for small native bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does San Diego yerba buena need?
- San Diego yerba buena grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does San Diego yerba buena bloom?
- San Diego yerba buena blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is San Diego yerba buena native?
- San Diego yerba buena (Clinopodium chandleri) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does San Diego yerba buena attract?
- San Diego yerba buena draws small native bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow San Diego yerba buena? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.