LEPECHINIA. Pitcher sage. California, Mexico to South America, and Hawaii. An interesting group of shrubs and woody-based perennials of the mint family, some of them quite ornamental. They vary in habit but have large paired, usually hairy and aromatic leaves and irregular flowers with broad tubes and 2-lipped “faces”. The following are good plants for the background of a perennial border and for banks and open slopes. They are easy to grow in sun or light shade, planted in well drained soil, with moderate to occasional watering. Their hardiness varies as shown.

hastata. Mexico. A shrub about 6’ tall, spreading by underground rhizomes to make small thickets. The stems are stout and set with very large, densely furry, arrow shaped leaves. These have a sweet, pungent fragrance. During the summer months large, openly branched clusters of reddish purple blossoms are borne at the shoot tips.