Photo by Deb Jackson
Copyright 2000

Downy Wood Mint
Blephilia ciliata

Other Names: Downy Blephilia, Downy Pagoda, Pagodaplant, Woodmint, Monarda ciliata, Ohio horse-mint

Habitat
Perennial herb Native to Eastern North America from Wisconsin to Vermont, South to Florida. Found in dry woods, thickets, fields, clearings and rural roadsides. Cultivation: Downy Wood Mint prefers well drained fertile soil and partial shade, sow seed in fall as soon as gathered, cover lightly. Downy Wood Mint is very aromatic, it attracts butterflies and bees to the garden. The plant stands about 3 feet tall the stems are branched opposite. The leaves are light green, whitish downy beneath, opposite, simple, subsessile to short-petiolate, lanceolate ovate and slightly serrate. Flowers are blue to purple, arranged in whorls and separated by a row of fringed bracket like round platforms or pagodas, hence pagoda plant. There may be as many as 6 to 7 pagodas full of flowers, per stem sometimes weighing the plant and bending it down. Flowers bloom is from May thru September. Young shoots are edible. Gather flowers and leaves in bloom, dry for later herb use.

Folklore
 Used as a ceremonial smudging herb by some Native American tribes, to drive away evil spirits when a person was dying.

Recipe
"Medicinal" tea: To 1 heaping tbls. fresh or 1 tsp. dry herb add 1 cup water steep for 10 min. take hot for coughs, colds, chills and fevers.

Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron  

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