Yerba Mansa is a beautiful California native perennial known for its broad, aromatic green leaves and distinctive white, cone-shaped flowers surrounded by petal-like bracts. Naturally found in wetlands, marshes, springs, and along creek banks, this spreading plant thrives in consistently moist soil and can form attractive colonies over time. Its unique flowers, seasonal foliage, and ability to grow in wet areas make it an excellent choice for pond margins, rain gardens, bioswales, and water-wise landscapes where moisture is available.

Quick care: Full sun to part shade • Regular to high water • Consistently moist soil • Spreading growth habit. See the Plant Profile and Growing Conditions below for full details.

Plant Profile

• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

• Mature Size: Approximately 1–2 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide, depending on growing conditions

• Native Range: California and the southwestern United States, extending into northwestern Mexico

• Flower Color: White, sometimes with reddish or pink tones

• Bloom Time: Spring through summer

• Foliage: Broad, oval-shaped green leaves that may turn reddish in fall before going dormant

• Growth Habit: Low-growing, spreading perennial that expands through creeping stems and underground rhizomes

  
  

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade

• Water: Moderate to high; prefers consistently moist to wet soil

• Soil: Adaptable to a variety of soil types, including clay and alkaline or slightly saline soils, provided adequate moisture is maintained

• USDA Zones: Approximately 7–12, depending on local conditions

• Drought Tolerant: No; requires regular moisture and is best suited to wet or seasonally wet areas

• Maintenance: Low to moderate; trim spreading runners to control growth and remove dead foliage as needed. The plant may go dormant during part of the year and return when conditions are favorable.

Planting Instructions

• Best Planting Time: Fall through spring in California, when temperatures are mild

• Spacing: Plant approximately 2–3 feet apart, allowing room for the plant to spread and form colonies

• Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide. Set the plant at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container

• Establishment Water: Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist while the plant establishes

• Long-Term Care: Maintain regular moisture throughout the growing season. Yerba Mansa performs best near ponds, water features, rain gardens, and other locations where the soil stays moist. Trim runners as needed to prevent spreading into neighboring plants or unwanted areas.

Wildlife & Pollinators

• Attracts: Native bees, butterflies, and other small beneficial insects

• Pollinator Value: The tiny flowers clustered on the cone-shaped flower head provide resources for visiting insects

• Deer Resistant: Not reliably deer resistant; browsing may occur

• Garden Benefits: Excellent for pond margins, wetland gardens, bioswales, rain gardens, and moist landscape areas

• Notable: Yerba Mansa is especially valuable for planting in consistently moist areas where many other garden plants struggle. Its spreading roots can help cover damp ground, while its unusual white flowers and broad leaves provide seasonal interest. Allow room for its spreading habit or grow it in a container to help control its growth.