Trichostema lanceolatum
Trichostema lanceolatum
Safety & Hazards
The plant has been used by native peoples as an aid in catching fish. Dams would be built strategically in rivers and streamsin order to trap the fish within small ponds. Then, mashed or powdered plants were thrown into the water with the fish. After the plants were added, the fish would become sluggish and easier to catch in nets or sieves made of willow[1]. Numerous reasons have been offered for this reaction including that the fish were either poisoned, their gills clogged, or that the plants affected the oxygen in the water[1].
Cultivation Details
Trichostema lanceolatum is a xerophytic plant that is adapted to the dry, rainless summers and moist to wet winters of California’s Mediterranean climate[1]. Requires an open sunny position in a well-drained soil[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. The plant has a pungent medicinal odour that can be detected over long distances[1]. The leaves are dotted with glands that produce the strong somewhat sour aroma[1].
Propagation
The seeds ripen in the late autumn and collected seeds can be sown immediately or gently dried and stored[1]. Stored seed can be sown in situ in the late autumn (in mild winter areas) or early spring. Prepare a seedbed that receives full sun and in an area that is well drained. Broadcast the seeds and lightly rake them into the soil. Tamp the soil snuggly over the seeds. If planting the seeds at the start of a dry season then gently sprinkle the sown bed with water and keep it lightly moist until the seedlings are established. Once established, this is very drought resistant species and will not tolerate frequent watering[1]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Trichostema+lanceolatum>
Pollinators
Bees
References
- [1]Plants Database — United States Department of Agriculture · http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet ↩︎An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
- [2]A California Flora. — Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. · University of California Press; Los Angeles · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
- [3]Native American Ethnobotany — Moerman. D. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 1998 · ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ↩︎Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
- [4]Plants for Man. — Schery. R. W. ↩︎Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.