Poliomintha incana
Desert Rosemary, Frosted Mint
Description
Poliomintha incana is an aromatic shrub, with a strong smell of mint, producing few to many stems, square-in cross-section, to heights of between 1 and 3 feet. Plants can form large clumps, with an overall rounded appearance. Leaves are simple, narrow, angled upwards, and have a prominent midvein. Stems and leaves have a light to dense covering of short hairs. Leaves are stalkless, and those higher up the stem are smaller. Flowers are produced in whorled clusters of up to six, from the upper leaf nodes, which are quite well-separated. They have a purplish calyx, the tube two to three times as long as the lobes, and a pale pink or light blue corolla, with a protruding upper lip and a larger, reflexed, three-lobed lower lip. The center of the lower lip is flecked with small purple dots. The calyx is covered by long, greyish hairs. At the center of the flower are two stamens and one pistil.
Plant Type
Shrub
Height Range
1-3'
Flower Color
Blue, Pink, Purple, Multi-Colored
Flower Season
Spring, Summer
Leaf Color
Grey Green, Light Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Half
Water
Growth Rate
Soil Type
Sandy, Rocky
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Wild Garden
Accenting Features
Fragrance, Showy Flowers
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer
Location Uses
Entry, Parking Strip, Walkways, With Rocks
Special Uses
Erosion Control, Filler, Small Spaces, Medicinal
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Remember to check your irrigation system at least once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.