Flower profile
Downy pagoda plant
Blephilia ciliata
Downy pagoda plant (Blephilia ciliata) is a flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.
Downy pagoda plant is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Missouri
Quick look
Blephilia ciliata is a species of herbaceous perennial plant in the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to central and eastern North America. It is commonly called downy wood mint. Other common names include downy pagoda-plant, sunny woodmint and Ohio horsemint.
- It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Missouri. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 694 research-grade sightings of it in Missouri, ranking #100 among the 177 flowers on our Missouri list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Missouri
- Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (SH), DE (SH), IA (S1), KS (S1), MA (S1), NJ (SX), NY (S1), OK (SH), SC (S2), VT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Minty leaves can be eaten raw and used in teas. The leaves can be used to prepare sauces and drinks.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records downy pagoda plant in 27 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Missouri counties with USDA records: Adair, Audrain, Barry, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dallas, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Reynolds, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wright.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 480 counties across 23 states; the most are in Missouri (69), Illinois (58), Kentucky (51).
More from the Lamiaceae family (44 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, American germander.
More Missouri flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile BLCI.
- iNaturalist, Blephilia ciliata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Blephilia ciliata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
- Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Blephilia ciliata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: florawhite via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.