Hairy Woodmint

Blephilia hirsuta Lamiaceae

Other names

Hairy Pagoda Mint

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Native to the Finger Lakes Region, E North America

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden

Source of plant

Unknown

Description

A clump-forming, mint family member that features square stems rising to 30" tall. Blue-purple, two-lipped flowers appear in late spring to mid-summer in several tiered, whorled, globular clusters in an interrupted terminal spike, with each cluster being subtended by a whorl of fringed bracts. Similar in appearance to the closely related monardas. Stems and leaves are hairy. Ovate stem leaves are long-stalked, toothed and mildly fragrant when crushed. Leaves are usually considered to be lacking in the pungency and quality needed for use as a culinary herb. Small basal leaves and shoots remain green throughout the winter. This plant is very similar to Blephilia ciliata, except it is hairy, its stems are more frequently branched and its leaves have long stalks and noticeable teeth.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3

Status

L3|S4|G5