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Cunila origanoides (Linnaeus) Britton. Common name: Stone-mint, American-dittany, Wild-oregano. Phenology: Aug-Oct; Oct-Dec. Habitat: Dry rocky slopes, shale barrens, other dry (usually sloping) woodlands and barrens. Distribution: S. NY and PA west to MO, south to c. SC, n. GA, n. AL, nw. MS, c. and s. LA (allegedly), and ne. TX (Singhurst & Holmes 2004).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = Ar, C, F, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV; = Mappia origanoides (L.) House — S

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Heliophily : 6

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Carol Ann McCormick | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: A wiry-stemmed, sprawling perennial found on dry rocky slopes, shale barrens and other dry (often sloping) woodlands and barrens.

Stems: Stems 4-angled, stiff verging on woody, branched, reddish-brown, and soft-hairy in the upper half but smooth below.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile or short-petiolate, oval to lance-shaped, ¾-1½ in. long, with sparingly toothed margins and dotted with tiny glands.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in clusters of 3-9 in upper leaf axils, pink or lavender with purple spots, ¼ in. long, the corolla a hairy tube with 4 spreading lobes and 2 prominently protruding stamens and the calyx tubular as well.

Fruits: Fruit 4 tiny, brown nutlets.

Comments: Plant gives off a strong scent of oregano when bruised.

Height: 8-16 in.

plant sale text: American-dittany is a many-branched southeastern native perennial that produces plentiful small pink to lavender flowers in late summer. It has a dainty appearance, though it is a tough plant and quite easy to grow. It prefers sandy soils, although any well-drained soil is acceptable. Each plant spreads approximately 18 inches. Over time, this species may continue to spread over a larger area. This species is found in open woodlands of the piedmont and coastal plain regions of North Carolina. Its pleasantly aromatic leaves have long been used in making teas.

bloom table text:

description: A wiry-stemmed, sprawling perennial found on dry rocky slopes, shale barrens and other dry (often sloping) woodlands and barrens.

stems: Stems 4-angled, stiff verging on woody, branched, reddish-brown, and soft-hairy in the upper half but smooth below.

leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile or short-petiolate, oval to lance-shaped, ¾-1½ in. long, with sparingly toothed margins and dotted with tiny glands.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in clusters of 3-9 in upper leaf axils, pink or lavender with purple spots, ¼ in. long, the corolla a hairy tube with 4 spreading lobes and 2 prominently protruding stamens and the calyx tubular as well.

fruits: Fruit 4 tiny, brown nutlets.

comments: Plant gives off a strong scent of oregano when bruised.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States