Image of Blephilia ciliata
Source: Donna Bos
image of Flowering plant
Blephilia ciliata
Downy Wood Mint
Bléphilie ciliée

Obsolete Names

downy blephilia
downy pagoda plant
Ohio horsemint
Seeds available at table Mixed Sun, Dry
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Purple Bloom period: Jun - Jul
Max Height: 1.0 feet
Max Width: 1.5 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
plant endangered This plant is endangered
septic tank safe This plant is septic tank safe

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: No

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Blephilia ciliata
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Blephilia ciliata

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Blephilia ciliata

No bee data available for this plant.

Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Lamium (Dead nettle)
  • Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
  • Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow by February
  • Stratification duration: 60 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: July
  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
  • Harvesting mean: Cut top edge then shake seeds off in bag or container
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • Remove non seed material
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Not known to be toxic to mammals if ingested.