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Aloysia wrightii - Wright's beebrush

Scientific Family
Verbenaceae
Synonyms
Lippia wrightii
Other common names
bee brush
lemon verbena
lemon verbana
mintbush lippia
Wright aloysia
Wright lippia
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No

Plant Description

Origin
Native

Slender-stemmed aromatic shrub distinguished by its grayish-green and opposite leaves with round-toothed margins, white tangled hairs on the lower leaf surface, and strong veins above, as well as by the terminal, densely-hairy spikes of flowers.

Aromatic shrub diffusely branched; small grayish-green opposite and round toothed leaves; small flowers in slender, elongated spikes in axillary spikes.

Height
4 to 6 feet
Width
4 to 6 feet

Habitat

Habitat description

Found on rocky slopes and in ravines, often on limestone.

Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
6000

Leaves

Leaf color
Green to gray
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf attachment
Opposite
Leaf hairs
Bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Semi-evergreen

Leaves are often crowded, rounded to oval, 1/10 to 6/10 inch long, lower surface of leaf is densely hairy.

Flowers

Flower color
White
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October

Tiny flowers less than 1/10 inch long, covered with downy hairs. 4 to 5 lobes per flower, rounded, upper 2 lobes are larger. Flowers are borne on branched elongated clusters that are 1 to 2 inches long.

Flower clusters
Elongated

Fruit

Fruit color
Brown
Fruit type
Nut or nut-like

2 nutlets per flower, tiny, much less than 1/16 inch in size.

Bark/Branches

Bark color
Brown to light brown
Bark texture
Shreddy or peeling

Many branches, twigs brown, angles white, stems are yellow and along with the branches densely hairy. Bark is thin, membranous, peeling in strips at maturity.