Bitter Mediterranean herb confirmed growing wild in LA County
iNaturalist: chloroxiphite
Invasive Species
If you're weeding a dry, sunny corner of your yard in Southern California and find a fuzzy gray-green plant that smells faintly bitter, it might be this spreading herb, useful to know since it self-seeds aggressively and can crowd out natives.
White Horehound is a fuzzy, gray-green herb from the Mediterranean that's long been used in old-fashioned cough drops and teas. Someone spotted it growing wild in Los Angeles County and other naturalists confirmed the sighting, which helps scientists track where this drought-tolerant plant is spreading in California's dry, sunny habitats.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the species ID was confirmed by multiple community identifiers.
Location recorded in Los Angeles County, California, indicating the plant's presence in a Mediterranean-climate urban region well suited to its growth habits.
Marrubium vulgare is a non-native perennial herb originally from Europe, North Africa, and Asia, now naturalized across much of California.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A verified sighting confirms White Horehound, a hardy Mediterranean herb, growing wild in Los Angeles County, marking another spot where this non-native plant has taken root in California's dry landscapes.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) observed in Los Angeles County, US-CA, US
Research-grade observation of White Horehound in Los Angeles County, US-CA, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Marrubium vulgare is a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern and central Asia. Specifically, it emerged in the region between the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia and now inhabits all continents. It is also widely naturalized in many...