Species wild pennyroyal
velvety, purple flowers with purple stamens, and pink-green, hairy leaves

wild pennyroyal

Piloblephis rigida

Wild pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) is a small perennial plant found in parts of North America. It grows up to one foot tall and has small, round, fragrant foliage. The leaves and stems are slightly fuzzy and have a distinctive minty odor. The small, white flower clusters bloom in the summer with tiny blooms that are not noticeable. This hardy plant tolerates dry conditions and grows in poor soil. It can be an effective groundcover or container plant, as it requires minimal care and maintenance. The minty aroma can even help keep away bugs in the garden.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 10

Flowers:

Lilac to lavender Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Poisonous To Humans:

Yes

Poisonous To Pets:

Yes

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Wild pennyroyal is a drought tolerant plant and its ideal watering schedule is to water it occasionally, just enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy. During the summer months, water the plant once per week or whenever the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. In the winter, water the plant every 2-3 weeks, or when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, as this can cause root rot in the plant.

sunlight

Wild pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) thrives best in full sunlight for at least 6 hours per day. The plant prefers direct sunlight so it’s ideal to place it in an area that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight throughout the day. As the summer months approach, the amount of sunlight can increase to 8-10 hours. The amount of light during the winter months should remain roughly the same, however, since less sunlight is available during this time of year, place the plant in a sunny window indoors or somewhere that gets the most sunlight possible.

pruning

Wild pennyroyal plants should be pruned annually. Pruning should take place in early spring, just after a cold spell, when new growth has just began to appear. Pruning should be done carefully to remove dead or damaged branches. The remaining branches should then be selectively thinned or shortened to encourage greater air circulation and sunlight penetration. This will help produce more vibrant foliage and encourage flowering. Additionally, wild pennyroyal can be lightly pruned during summer to maintain its desired shape.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Wild pennyroyal typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map