Yerba Bueana is easy as long as it is in part to full shade and it smells great. The best time to plant is in the fall right before its supposed to rain or after we've had our first rain storm. During the summer I hose mine down every two to three weeks. The only reason it might not do well is if your parking strip gets intense afternoon sun or you overwater it with the sprinklers.
-Nate

In the wild, yerba buena loses leaves in summer, but usually does not die. I've seen it in the shade of oaks and madrones. With added water, it will look green the year round. Very fragrant, makes good tea. You can combine it with other perennials like heuchera, doug iris, or wildflowers.

Arvind, very interesting about mixing it with wildflowers. I have a narrow strip of dirt between the garage and the walkway leading to the front door. I threw in the seeds from a wild flower packet, and now I have little sprouts. I'm amazed because I'm not much of a gardener. Maybe I'll plant some Yerba Buena in that strip as well.

I live in San Jose. Where can I buy Yerba Buena locally?

saxophone, I live in San Jose, too, in Evergreen. I encourage you to try YB and other California natives. Some people have done very nice strips using natives (perennials, grasses, wildflowers, groundcovers).

Try Payless Nursery (on King just north of Aborn). Call (408) 274-7815 and ask for Wanda; ask her if she has YB in stock, and if not, if she can get it for you. She is very knowledgeable about native plants, and has convinced her management to carry California natives. They carry Annie's Annuals, which often supplies CA natives in 4" pots, including yerba buena.

Although I've never been there, I'm told Yamagami's also carries Annie's Annuals.

- Arvind

Not at all trying to supply bad information, but my YB has been in a hanging pot in pretty much full sun for a couple of years. When I transplanted it from the whiskey barrel I'd had it in, to the hanging planter so the stems could trail more, I thought I'd lost it cause it immediately went crispy, but I hacked it down to the base and it's come back beautifully. And it's really in full sun, against a wall facing west. Just my 2 cents worth.

Romando, that sounds lovely. How often do you water the hanging pot?

I have yerba buena in part sun also. Last year I planted it in May from a 3-inch deep pot, and it was in light shade most of the summer, but this summer I had smaller plants in that spot so it has gotten a lot more sun. The one plant has spread to nearly 10 square feet. I have mulch there, so the stems have not rooted as much as they would were it bare soil. It is in direct sun for at least 3 hours a day (on these cloudy mornings; it has had up to 5 hours in the summer). The older leaves are turning yellowish but I still have a lot of nice green growth. I do spritz it with the hose once or twice a week. One of my favorite plants!

Arvind:

I really like it in the hanging pot! I water it about 3 times a week. . .it seems to be doing just fine! Since it's in full sun, I water it more than I would if it weren't as exposed. . .

Where can i buy some yerba buena seed or plants via mail order? i love the plant for tea and live out of california.
any ideas. would love to find the plant again.

Rosemary: I know Annie's Annuals carries it, though I don't know if it's in stock right now. Maybe try some herb nurseries?

Amanda 'romando'

I have my Yerba buena in a large bucket container. I had it in full sun, during all this hot days, it got all dried up and died.I pinched out all the dried leaves, and moved it to the shade, now it`s flourishing again. Now I know it likes shade.

You might check Larner Seeds for seed packets, or possibly Seedhunt.com.
If those 2 don't pan out, just type the botanical name into google, and you're bound to find others...and Payless does have it in stock in 4" pots.

I have mine in an area that gets on/off/on again sun, planted sideways from a 1/2 pot on it's side. The plants around it like water, so the air stays fairly cool and humid, and the plant gets a few drops of water from overspray.

wanda

I planted this three years ago (Berkeley). Looked great year 1 and 2. Now looking very twiggy and bare. Can I rejuvenate or does it all need to be pulled out?