Category Archives: Member of the mint family

Selfheal

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris). A member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae).

Pollinators such as Bees, small Butterflies and Skippers seek the nectar of Selfheal. And Halictid Bees collect Selfheal’s pollen. In the image above, a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) is gathering nectar.

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Autumn Flower

As spring turns to summer, early in the year, I always look forward to Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) beginning to bloom. I have to wait a while since these are late blooming flowers. Late enough that they are here for the Hummingbirds traveling through.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that are on their way south to their winter homes, so very far away, stop at my feeders still stocked with sugar water but they also notice my blooming Obedient Plants and stop for a drink at these flowers. I saw one just today at some of the purple-pink flowers and I know the little guy was happy to find the blooms.

Obedient Plant is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to North American from eastern Canada to northern Mexico, all the way over to New Mexico.