Santa Maria, also known as Bushy Matgrass or Bushy Lippia, is a versatile species belonging to the verbena family, Verbenaceae, found across southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. This perennial herb, often reaching heights of 2 metres, features sparsely branched shrubs with leaves measuring 1 to 3 centimetres in length and 0.
 
to 2 centimetres in width. Its flowers, appearing in white, pink, or light blue-purple corollas, form on spikes approximately 2 centimetres long. Widely cultivated for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers, Santa Maria serves both ornamental and medicinal purposes.
 
Santa Maria is valued for its cooling and drying effects on the body's respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Its unique essential oil composition includes compounds like piperitone, geranial, neral, caryophyllene, camphor, and limonene. The leaves are not only used for flavouring foods, such as mole sauces from Oaxaca, Mexico, but also hold medicinal significance, exhibiting somatic, sedative, antidepressant, and analgesic properties. In traditional medicine practices, it is employed to alleviate respiratory and gastrointestinal disturbances, including influenza, and is cherished for its calming sedative effect on depression and anxiety. Additionally, Santa Maria serves as an essential oil source, providing compounds like dihydrocarvone, limonene, pinene, linalol and camphor.
 
In culinary applications, the leaves impart a delightful lemony flavour to teas and various dishes, contributing both taste and medicinal benefits. Whether brewed as a tea or used for flavouring sauces and soups, Santa Maria offers a refreshing and therapeutic addition to culinary and wellness practices alike.

Common Name: Santa Maria

Botanical Names:
Lippia Alba
Camara Alba
Lantana Alba
Lantana Cuneatifolia
Lantana Geminata
Lantana Lippioides
Lantana Malabarica
Lantana Mollissima
Lantana Odorata
Lippia Asperifolia
Lippia Carterae
Lippia Citrata
Lippia Crenata
Lippia Geminata
Lippia Globiflora
Lippia Havanensis
Lippia Lantanifolia
Lippia Lantanoides
Lippia Lantanoides
Lippia Obovata
Lippia Panamensis
Lippia Unica
Verbena Globiflora
Verbena Globulifera
Verbena Lantanoides
Zappania Geminata
Zappania Globiflora
Zappania Globiflora
Zappania Lantanoides
Zappania Odorata

Family: Verbenaceae

Other Names:
Alfombirlla
Bushy Lippia
Bushy Matgrass
Cidrilla
Colic Mint
Hierba Buena
Hierba Negra
Juan Salma
Juanilama
Lippia
Mastranto
Oregano De Burro
Pamporegano
Pitiona
Poleo
Salva Colorado
Salva Do Brasil
Salvia
Sonora
Te De Castilla
Te De Maceta
Te Del Pais
Te Del Pan
Teasam
Toronjil De Espana Mirto

Origin: Central America, South America, Trinidad

Duration: Perennial

Habit: Santa Maria is a slow-growing perennial multi-branched shrub, typically reaching a height of about 2 metres (6.6 feet). Its leaves, measuring 1 to 3 centimetres in length and 0.9 to 2 centimetres in width, are arranged opposite or in groups of three. The plant produces flowers with white, pink or light blue-purple corollas, forming on spikes that are approximately 2 centimetres long.

Hardiness: Hardy