Anemopsis californica (Yerba Mansa) - A California native rhizomatous perennial with large basal leaves that grow to 1 foot tall. From spring to fall appear the cone shaped flowers that are subtended by white bracts.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist areas or even in saturated soil. Once established it can run about in the garden in moist soils. It is cold hardy to 15-20 degrees F. Can look a little funky in winter so that is a good time to trim or even mow it back or plant it with other plants that hide it a bit during this period. A wonderful spreading groundcover in wet or perennially moist soils – a great plant for the "rain garden". It reportedly thrives in gardens in the hot and humid Southeast US as evidenced by successful long lived plantings at Plant Delights Juniper Level Botanic Garden.
Anemopsis californica is native to northwest Mexico and southwestern United States from California to Texas and north in the plain states to Oregon. The name for the genus comes from the Latin combination of 'Anem' from "Anemone" and 'opsis' meaning "like" or "resembling" from this plant's resemblance to an anemone. The common name Yerba Mansa means "calming herb" in Spanish and this plant is also sometimes called lizard tail. Its bark and roots were widely used medicinally by native Americans to treat coughs and many other disorders and also as as a disinfectant and pain killer. It is classified as a paleo herb, one of a small group of flowering plants which have traditionally been classified as dicots, but which evolved very early and has many characters in common with monocots.
We sold this plant from 2001 until 2009 as part of our Aquatic Plants Program and got
The information about Anemopsis californica displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |