Blephilia spp.

wood mint

Lamiaceae Eastern and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Blephilia spp. is a genus of perennial herbs in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to eastern and central North America. The genus includes downy wood mint (Blephilia ciliata) and hairy wood mint (Blephilia hirsuta), both clump-forming plants with square stems typical of the mint family. Plants grow 12-30 inches (30-75 cm) tall, with opposite, toothed, often hairy leaves that release a faint minty scent when crushed. In early to midsummer the stems carry tiered whorls of small two-lipped flowers in pale lavender to purple, spotted with darker purple, stacked in interrupted clusters that give a pagoda-like outline. Blephilia spp. grows in open woodland, woodland edges, prairies, and rocky slopes on a range of soils. Plants spread slowly by short rhizomes and self-seed in open ground. The flowers draw bees and other pollinators over several weeks. Most species tolerate part shade better than many mints, though they can look untidy after flowering and may need cutting back.

Native Range

Native to eastern and central North America, from the Great Lakes and New England south to the Gulf states, in open woods, woodland edges, prairies, and rocky glades.

Suggested Uses

Grown in pollinator and native plant gardens, woodland edges, and informal borders. The tiered flower spikes combine with prairie grasses and other summer-blooming native perennials.

How to Identify

Recognized by square mint-family stems and opposite toothed leaves that smell faintly minty when crushed. The pale lavender, purple-spotted flowers are stacked in tiered whorls along the upper stem, giving a layered, pagoda-like look. Downy and hairy wood mints differ mainly in leaf hairiness and stalk length.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'6"

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Tiered whorls of pale purple flowers open in early to midsummer, roughly May to July. Bloom continues for several weeks as successive whorls open up the stem. Seed heads follow and hold into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale lavender to purple

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Blephilia spp. grows in full sun to part shade on average, well-drained soils, and tolerates clay and rocky ground. Plants accept drier shade better than many mints but flower most in brighter light with steady moisture. They spread slowly by rhizomes and self-seed where soil is open. Division in spring or autumn renews older clumps. Cutting back after flowering tidies the plants and can prompt fresh basal growth.

Pruning

Stems are cut back after flowering to neaten the plant and limit self-seeding. Foliage can be left over winter for seed-eating birds and removed in early spring. No woody pruning is needed.

Pruning Schedule

summer

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Perennial