Downy Wood Mintis a perennialwildflower hardy in zones 4-8 and native toCentral and Eastern North America. Originally native to the Great Lakes region.
This plant features clusters of stacked pink-purple flowers that are hairy and have two lips, each with three lobes and red spots on the lower lip, creating a tiered appearance. It blooms in early summer, specifically in June and July. The mildly fragrant blooms serve as a wonderful nectar source and produce pollen, making Downy Wood Mint a good choice for cut flowers. It attracts bees and is beneficial for native pollinators. The flowers can also be dried for use in floral arrangements.
However, it’s important to note that Downy Wood Mint does not serve as a host plant. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in loamy or silty soil, which can contain gravel or clay. The plant does well in medium to dry, well-drained soil and is drought tolerant.
Mature plants reach a height of 1 to 2 feet and have a spread of about 18 inches. The stems are downy-haired, and the opposing leaves feature tiny hairs on their undersides and toothed margins. The basal leaves remain green throughout the winter, while the fall foliage turns various shades of deep pink. Although Downy Wood Mint grows quickly, it is not considered aggressive.
After flowering, the plant produces seed heads that form a stacked cluster at the upper portion of the stems. These brown, rounded seed heads remain on the plant long after the flowers have faded, often lasting through the winter, providing a valuable food source for birds and small mammals. Downy Wood Mint spreads by rhizomes from a tap root to form a clump.
Companion plants include little blue stem grass, butterfly weed, various asters, and golden rod. The plant is easily propagated through division and is resistant to deer and rabbits.
Historically, Native Americans used Downy Wood Mint for medicinal purposes, such as making a poultice from the leaves to treat headaches and sinus congestion.
Downy Wood Mintis a perennialwildflower hardy in zones 4-8 and native toCentral and Eastern North America. Originally native to the Great Lakes region.
This plant features clusters of stacked pink-purple flowers that are hairy and have two lips, each with three lobes and red spots on the lower lip, creating a tiered appearance. It blooms in early summer, specifically in June and July. The mildly fragrant blooms serve as a wonderful nectar source and produce pollen, making Downy Wood Mint a good choice for cut flowers. It attracts bees and is beneficial for native pollinators. The flowers can also be dried for use in floral arrangements.
However, it’s important to note that Downy Wood Mint does not serve as a host plant. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in loamy or silty soil, which can contain gravel or clay. The plant does well in medium to dry, well-drained soil and is drought tolerant.
Mature plants reach a height of 1 to 2 feet and have a spread of about 18 inches. The stems are downy-haired, and the opposing leaves feature tiny hairs on their undersides and toothed margins. The basal leaves remain green throughout the winter, while the fall foliage turns various shades of deep pink. Although Downy Wood Mint grows quickly, it is not considered aggressive.
After flowering, the plant produces seed heads that form a stacked cluster at the upper portion of the stems. These brown, rounded seed heads remain on the plant long after the flowers have faded, often lasting through the winter, providing a valuable food source for birds and small mammals. Downy Wood Mint spreads by rhizomes from a tap root to form a clump.
Companion plants include little blue stem grass, butterfly weed, various asters, and golden rod. The plant is easily propagated through division and is resistant to deer and rabbits.
Historically, Native Americans used Downy Wood Mint for medicinal purposes, such as making a poultice from the leaves to treat headaches and sinus congestion.
