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Mesosphaerum suaveolens

Hyptis suaveolens

Also called Pignut, Horehound, Mintbush, Mintweed, Wild Spikenard, American Mint, Hyptis

Mesosphaerum suaveolens
Photo: J.M.Garg, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mesosphaerum suaveolens (also known as Hyptis suaveolens) is a branching, mint-scented herb native to tropical America and naturalized in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, often growing as a weed. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions with little care, but it spreads readily and is treated as invasive in many areas.

Family
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Light
Full sun
Water
Water sparingly; it tolerates dry spells once established.
Soil
Tolerates poor, dry or sandy soils; well-drained soil preferred.
Temperature
18–30 °C; frost-tender, protect below 10 °C.
How easy
Easy
Edible
Yes, some parts

About

Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, chia, pignut, or chan, bukumbar is a branching pseudocereal plant native to tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America, as well as being naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It is generally 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) tall, occasionally up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Stems are hairy, and square in cross section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor if crushed. Flowers are pink or purple, arranged in clusters of 1–5 in the upper leaf axils.

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mesosphaerum suaveolens by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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