Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum) is another favorite plant I’d like to share in this native herbal tea plant series for California and Oregon. This evergreen shrub which can be found growing naturally in the chaparral, woodlands, and forests of California and Oregon, produces a naturally sweet tea with subtle notes of licorice. It has long been used by native peoples to treat sore throats, chest congestion, coughs, respiratory ailments, and more. It has not only been brewed as a tea, but also chewed, smoked, and used in syrups and tinctures too. Yerba Santa is my go-to tea for staving off colds and easing sore throats, and I've found it to be highly effective. To brew, use 1–3 dried or fresh leaves (best picked before its springtime bloom) per mugful, steeped in boiling water for 5–15 minutes. For a more delicate flavor, use fewer leaves and a shorter steeping time. For a stronger, more medicinal brew, use more leaves and a longer steep. Keep in mind that the taste can become bitter with a longer steep.
How to Grow Yerba Santa in Your Native Garden:
The plant features dark green, leathery, and resinous leaves, along with clusters of pretty light purple flowers in spring and summer. It thrives in full sun, growing 2 to 8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Yerba Santa is highly drought-tolerant and can adapt to various soil types, including clay, as long as the soil is well-drained. While it’s a favorite medicinal plant, it’s not the showiest addition to the garden, so I recommend placing it toward the back of a planting bed. In spring it looks it's best with its glossy new growth and delicate flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Later in the year, however, it can become a bit “rangy,” and the foliage may develop sooty mold, which darkens the leaves unpleasantly. This stage is a normal part of its seasonal changes; it's not contagious and won't transfer to nearby plants.
Yerba Santa can colonize an area if well-sited, which might make it less suitable for a small garden. It’s helpful for erosion control and can be used as a native hedge. Maintenance involves removing unwanted runners and light pruning to improve its shape. Despite its wilder appearance, Yerba Santa is a unique and valuable medicinal tea plant—one I would never leave out of my own native tea garden.
If you're interested in cultivating medicinal native plants, Yerba Santa is an easy, low-maintenance option to start with. And if you'd like assistance planning your garden, we’d be happy to help here at Earth & Spirit! We offer consultations for DIYers and full garden design plans. Let us help you create a garden that benefits both you and the environment.
Please remember that proper plant identification is essential before consumption, whether wild or garden grown. And before using herbs during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or if you have any existing medical conditions, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider.
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