Desert Lavender
Condea emoryi (formerly Hyptis emoryi)
Desert Lavender is a fragrant, silvery-leaved shrub that brings a soft splash of color and scent to the hot, dry landscapes of the American Southwest. Its purple blooms and aromatic leaves make it a favorite for both wildlife and desert gardeners.
Appearance:
A woody shrub that typically grows 3 to 8 feet tall, though it can be larger in protected areas. Its leaves are gray-green, soft, and covered in fine hairs, releasing a sweet herbal scent when touched. The small lavender to violet flowers grow in whorls along the stems and bloom in waves throughout the warm season.
Habitat:
Found along desert washes, rocky slopes, and canyons—usually in well-drained, gravelly soils. Common in the Sonoran and southern Mojave Deserts, especially below 3,000 feet.
Bloom Time:
Can bloom as early as February and continue through spring and into summer after rains.
Pollinators:
Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers are rich in nectar and provide a valuable resource in dry environments.
Note:
Desert Lavender is as useful as it is beautiful. It provides shade and shelter for small wildlife, is drought-tolerant, and adds color, fragrance, and motion to the desert breeze.
Desert Habitat: