Yerba buena. Reputed to possess medicinal qualities, the leaves were used by early settlers to brew a pleasing tea. Creeping perennial with slender, rooting stems and round leaves with a scalloped edge. Plants have a strong, minty aroma when crushed. Consider a planting near the entrance to a house to allow the aroma to enter the home on shoes and clothing. Small white flowers appear April through September. Best in sun or part shade near the coast and full shade inland. Rich, moist soils for best appearance. Noted for inspiring San Francisco’s original name of Yerba Buena. Useful as attractive small-scale groundcover or spilling over walls. Regular water. Hardy to 10F. Los Angeles to British Columbia.
