We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Micromeria chamissonis - (Benth.)Greene.

Common Name Yerba Buena
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Coniferous woods[60].
Range Western N. America - southern British Columbia to southern California.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Micromeria chamissonis Yerba Buena


Joyce Cory on Flickr
Micromeria chamissonis Yerba Buena

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Yerba Buena is also known as Satureia douglasii


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Micromeria chamissonis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. douglasii. Satureia douglasii. (Benth.)Briq. Thymus chamissonis. T. douglasii.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Tea

The dried leaves, steeped in boiling water, make a palatable mint-flavoured tea[183, 207, 256, 257]. The dried leafy spines are used according to other reports[161, 177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Aphrodisiac  Blood purifier  Digestive  Febrifuge  Kidney  Sedative  Tonic


The whole plant is aphrodisiac, blood purifier, mildly digestive, febrifuge, sedative and tonic[207, 256, 257]. An infusion can be used in the treatment of insomnia, colic, upset stomachs, kidney problems, colds and fevers[257]. A decoction of the plant has been used to get rid of pinworms[257]. The decoction has also been used as an aphrodisiac[257]. A poultice of the warm leaves have been applied to the jaw, or the plant held in the mouth, as a treatment for toothache[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Essential

The leaves have been placed in clothing as a perfume[257]. A dynamic accumulator gathering minerals or nutrients from the soil and storing them in a more bioavailable form - used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers an open position in a well-drained soil[1]. Succeeds in poor soils[200]. Plants grow best and live longer when grown in an open sunny position and a dry sandy soil[245]. A prostate plant, the stems forming roots at the leaf axils wherever they come into contact with the soil[245]. The bruised leaves release a most refreshing lemony scent resembling verbena[245]. Micromeria chamissonis (Benth.) Greene is a synonym of Micromeria douglasii Benth. Satureja douglasii (Benth.) Briq. is a synonym of Micromeria douglasii Benth. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division of the rooted prostrate stems in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Alaska, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Micromeria bifloraLemon Scented ThymePerennial0.2 -  LMNDM221
Micromeria julianaSavoryShrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM11 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Benth.)Greene.

Botanical References

60200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Richard Dunstone   Sun Aug 22 11:25:31 2004

I've just returned from Cuba, where Yerba Buena is the herb to use in preparing the ubiquitous Mojito rum cocktail.

phil rooksby   Fri Feb 29 2008

a photo of this (taken Feb 2008) is available on our blog http://monkeyandsofia.blogspot.com/2008/02/have-cup-of-tea.html

monkey & sofia

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Micromeria chamissonis  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.