Wild Pennyroyal

Description

Botanical Name:   Piloblephis rigida

Common Name:    Wild Pennyroyal

Description:    Wild pennyroyal is a low-growing, evergreen, small perennial shrublet. There is a small population of it in Southeastern Georgia, but, other than that, it is endemic to Florida.

This herbaceous to semi-woody shrub grows only 1-2 feet tall and wide. It has a moderate growth rate. Its natural habitat is in scrub, scrubby and pine flatwoods, sandhills, dry prairies, and ruderal areas. It likes living in acidic, dry, well-drained, sandy soils in sun to part sun. It is considered a short-lived perennial, so don’t be surprised if it dies after a few years. Is drought tolerant after becoming established. Because of its small size, it grows great in containers. Wonderful groundcover, front-of-the-border plant.

Usually it flowers in late winter through spring, but can bloom year-round. Its flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Because of its early bloom period, it supplies pollen and nectar when little else is available, making it an important part of nativescaping. Is deer resistant.

Per the Florida Wildflower Foundation:  “Wild pennyroyal’s small, 2-lipped flowers may be lavender, purple or pinkish. Lower lips are lobed with dark purple spots. Stamens are prominent. Flowers are borne in dense, cone-shaped terminal clusters. Sepals are pubescent and green with purple margins. Leaves are tiny and needle-like with entire margins. They are oppositely arranged. Stems are semi-woody and branched. Fruit is a small aggregate of four nutlets.”

The entire plant smells delicious. Go on ahead and rub some of its leaves in your had to see what I mean. It has a lovely minty/lemony fragrance. You can also use the leaves for your minty tea.

While researching this plant, I saw that its dried leaves help to keep fleas away! Put some in a bag by your doggie bed and let me know how it works for you.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Has low to no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray.

This plant in 1-gallon containers is 5 – 15 inches tall.

Plant Lore:   ‘Piloblephis rigida is the only species in its genus. The genus name comes from the Greek pilo, or “hairy,” and blephis, or “eyelid,” and refers to the tiny soft hairs that coat the sepals. The species epithet rigida is from the Latin rigidus, meaning “rigid,” and refers to its stiff branches.’  ~Florida Wildflower Foundation~

Florida Zones 9 – 10