yerba santa

noun

Any of a group of plants native to southwestern North America. Eriodictyon californicum or other species in the genus Eriodictyon, which have traditionally been used medicinally.

Similar
Eriodictyon californicum
OriginSpanish yerba →
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Meanings

nounyerba santa (plural yerba santas)

plural yerba santas

  1. Any of a group of plants native to southwestern North America. Eriodictyon californicum or other species in the genus Eriodictyon, which have traditionally been used medicinally.
  2. Hoja santa, a Central American plant with sweet-scented leaves used to flavor food, Piper auritum.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounviscid evergreen shrub of western United States with white to deep lilac flowers; the sticky aromatic leaves are used in treating bronchial and pulmonary illnesses

Similar
Eriodictyon californicum
Broader
shrubbush

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Spanishyerba“herb”
  2. Englishyerba santa

From Spanish yerba (“herb”) + santa (“sacred”).

More words from Spanish

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

yerba santa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yerba%20santa

MLA

“yerba santa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yerba%20santa. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “yerba santa,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yerba%20santa.

Source: yerba santa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.