San Diego Thorn-Mint ⚠️ Threatened
Acanthomintha ilicifolia
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Stickpen
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Genus:
- Acanthomintha
- Species:
- Acanthomintha ilicifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- ACIL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, rose-pink, purple
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, native pollinators
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and consistent moisture. Surface sow or barely cover.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seeds were collected from two wild populations in San Diego County: Mission Trails Regional Park & Dennery Canyon. The plant is generally distributed in Southern California & Baja California.
Source: npn.rngr.net