Description

A member of the mint family with pleasant purple flower spikes and licorice scented leaves that make a nice tea, jelly or addition to salads. It is taller and clump forming so makes a good back of the border or central garden feature plant and is tolerant of a wide range of conditions which makes it low maintenance once established. It blooms later in the summer and provides food for many native bee species, honey bees, finches and hummingbirds when other species are done flowering for the season. Medicinally it shows strong antioxidant and moderate antimicrobial abilities which means it may have use in cosmetics as well as pharmaceuticals. This plant is high in antioxidants which protect your body from free radicals that cause disease and aging. It has also been shown to be antiviral towards certain viruses. Ingestion can induce sweating – a good thing if you are trying to break a low-grade fever, or warm up due to poor circulation. When used in incense or as an aromatherapy oil, it is also thought to lift the spirits, so may have use as an anti-depressant.