Pictured above: Carpenter bee on Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) by Emily Bell
69 species native to Florida Source: Atlas of Florida Plants Note: Recognized taxa may differ between sources, depending on which taxonomic approach is followed.
Family characteristics
There is ongoing confusion about the relationship between Lamiaceae (Mint family) and its close relatives, including Verbenaceae (Vervain or verbena family), Acanthaceae (Acanthus family) and Bignoniaceae (Bignonia family). The debate centers on whether these families should be grouped together or treated as distinct. Currently, Lamiaceae is recognized as a separate family comprising over 7,100 species worldwide, all believed to share a common origin and many similar traits.
Primary distinguishing features of the Lamiaceae family include:
Flowers with five lobes, typically formed by an upper lip of two lobes and a lower lip of three lobes
Click here for more detailed information on how to distinguish this family from its close relatives.
State and federally endangered Longspur balm (Dicerandra cornutissima). This image demonstrates the characteristic five flower lobes with two forming an upper lip and three forming a lower lip. Photo by Emily Bell
A Mockingbird eating American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) fruit. This small shrub makes a great addition to home and urban landscapes. Photo by Jensen Bell
The leaves of Wild pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) are delightfully aromatic and can be brewed into a tea. Photo by Mary Keim
Interesting facts
This family features many versatile species that make excellent additions to home and urban landscapes, including American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) and Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea).
Much like the culinary mints (Mentha spp.), there are many native wildflowers in this family that have cultural uses in the kitchen including Florida betony (Stachys floridana) and Wild pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida).
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a woody shrub found in pinelands and hammocks throughout Florida. Its flowers are a nectar source for pollinators, while the numerous berries provide food for birds in late summer and fall.
Wild pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) typically flowers in late winter through spring, but can bloom year-round, and occurs naturally in scrub, scrubby and pine flatwoods, sandhills, dry prairies and ruderal areas.
Longspur balm (Dicerandra cornutissima ), also commonly known as Longspurred mint, is an endangered wildflower endemic to the sandhills and white sand scrub of Marion and Sumter counties.
Largeflower false rosemary (Conradina grandiflora) is an endemic and state-threatened wildflower that occurs naturally in scrub habitats along the east coast of Central and South Florida.
Coastalplain balm (Dicerandra linearifolia) is a striking wildflower found in sandhill and scrub habitats. When in bloom, a single plant may have up to 100 or more bright to pale pink flowers.
Helmet skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) typically blooms in late spring and summer, attracting a wide range of bees, including leafcutter, cuckoo and bumble bees.
Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata) is an attractive perennial with leafless spikes of tubular, lavender to bluish flowers. Bees are its predominant pollinator, but it also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Florida betony (Stachys floridana) often gets a bad rap because it spreads so prolifically, especially in moist turf lawns. But it is a wonderful native wildflower for attracting bees and butterflies, and is also almost entirely edible to humans.
The brilliant red flowers of Scarlet calamint (Calamintha coccinea) offer a dramatic contrast against the backdrop of scrub, sandhill and coastal dunes where the plant naturally occurs. The long, nectar-rich flowers are particularly attractive to hummingbirds and large butterflies. They bloom in abundance in early spring and late fall, but may flower sporadically throughout the year. In peak bloom, a single plant may produce 100 or more flowers.
Clustered bushmint (Hyptis alata) occurs naturally along pond and swamp margins, in moist roadside ditches, and in wet prairies and pinelands. It typically blooms spring through fall, but may bloom year-round. The small flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, wasps and occasionally hummingbirds. When crushed, the plant emits a musky fragrance, giving it another common name, Musky mint.
Eastern false dragonhead (Physostegia purpurea) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower found in moist to wet pinelands and marsh and swamp edges throughout much of Florida. It blooms late spring through early fall and is especially attractive to bees, although butterflies and the occasional hummingbird are known to visit it. The seeds are eaten by birds.
Also known as Canadian germander, Wood sage (Teucrium canadense) flowers attract a variety of native long-tongued insects that will use the flower’s lower lip as a landing pad. Birds find the plant’s seeds appealing.
Titusville balm (Dicerandra thinicola) is a state-listed endangered wildflower endemic to Brevard County where it is restricted to an approximately 30-mile range.
Azure blue sage (Salvia azurea) occurs naturally in flatwoods and sandhills. Its striking cerulean flowers bloom August through November, attracting a variety of bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds.
Ashe’s calamint (Calamintha ashei) is a state-threatened shrub that typically blooms in spring but can bloom as early as January and as late as summer or early fall.
False rosemary (Conradina canescens) occurs naturally in sand pine scrub and sandhills. Many pollinator species are attracted to false rosemary, but bees are the most prominent visitor.
White birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea alba) is a rare and unique wildflower endemic to only four counties in Florida’s Panhandle. Its flowers bloom May through July and attract mostly bees.
Forked bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum ) have dainty yet distinctive bluish-purple flowers. They are short-lived, opening only in the morning, but individual plants may produce thousands of flowers throughout a season.
Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) is a robust, aromatic wildflower known to attract a huge variety of pollinating insects, including bees, wasps and butterflies. It blooms from early summer through fall.
Tropical sage ( Salvia coccinea) is a versatile perennial wildflower that no pollinator can resist, but it is particularly attractive to bees, large butterflies and hummingbirds.
