Blephilia ciliata.
Downy Wood Mint, also known as Ohio Horse Mint, is a perennial wildflower native to the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic states.
Plant grows to about 12 inches in height and produces dense clusters of lavender to purple, twin-lipped flowers that bloom from June to July.
Attracts honeybees, bumblebees, and other beneficial pollinators during its month long summer bloom. Deer tend to avoid.
Typically blooms during the second year.
Downy Wood Mint
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones:
4 to 8
Light Requirement:
Full to partial sun
Soil Type:
Loamy, silty
Sow Depth:
Surface
Plant Spacing:
10 to 18 inches
Germination Note:
Cold stratification required
Stratification Time:
60 days
Bloom Time:
June through July
Growing Tips
Direct sow in late fall on the soil's surface, as the seeds need light to germinate. For spring planting, mix seeds with moist sand and store in refrigerator for 60 days (cold stratification) before direct sowing.
If starting indoors, scatter seeds on soil's surface in seed flats. Keep moist and provide consistent light until germination. Transplant to garden once seedlings are several inches tall.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.
