Desert lavender, a member of the mint family, is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico,
found at elevations below 3000′ (914 m). It is
a perennial, but it drops its leaves if it is too cold.
Identification: This shrub has multiple gray stems that are
square in cross-section, and is 6-15′ (1.8-4.6 m) high.
Leaves are oval, up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm), feltlike, covered with fine hairs that make them look gray-green,
with fine-toothed edges. When crushed, the leaves have a strong smell of lavender or sage with a touch of honey. Flowers are lavender-colored or sometimes a brighter violet. Individual flowers are ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) around, with five petals.
They occur in clusters.