Sambucus nigra caerulea
Sambucus nigra caerulea
Chumash: qayas Español: Sauco
Chumash: qayas Español: Sauco
est. 2005
Once Upon a Watershed
is a program of the CREW
Telling the Story of Our Watershed Through Exploration, Education, and Stewardship
YERBA MANZA
Anemopsis californica
Chumash: qayas Español: Sauco
Plant Description
Category: Perennial Herb
Origin: Southwestern North America
Evergreen: Semi- Deciduous
Flower Color: White, Cream and Red
Bloomtime: Spring, Winter
Height: 1 ft.
Width: 2 ft.
Exposure: Part Shade, Full Sun
Drought Tolerant: No
Irrigation: Medium to High
Alternate Names: Lizard Tail
Yerba Mansa is a perennial herb that requires moist soil, so best to plant in streambeds, seeps or other damp areas. It produces beautiful white flowers in the early spring that remain on the plant until it starts to go dormant in late summer. It will often spread out like a carpet throughout the damper soil, and choke out any other plants in the area. When blooming it is quite beautiful. It makes a good ground cover near ponds and is deer resistant.
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Yerba Mansa is highly valued as a medicinal plant by the Chumash and neighboring tribes. It can be used as an anti-inflammatory and is highly valued as a disinfectant. ​​ The plant has anti-bacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It can be used for a variety of issues from the common cold to mouth ulcers. Its name means “calming herb” in Spanish although there are no reported sedative effects of this plant.