A small mint plant that is habitually orderly and clean in appearance. By September and October, will be only 12 to 16 inches tall and wide and covered in small, heart-shaped leaves and tiny pinkish lavender flowers. May be used as a culinary herb. Note: This resource on this edible plant is intended as general information only. As with any foods, there is a potential for allergic reactions when consuming native edibles. Always seek the advice of a health professional with any questions about touching or eating any plant matter.
Dittany is one of several native plants that create “frost flowers,” when moisture in the stems freezes in early winter and expands out of the plant as ribbons of frost.
The fruiting pods of dittany have dense white hairs. Photo by Marcus Wallace.