Conradina canescens

Native from southeastern Mississippi through southern Alabama to northwestern Florida, this plant is an evergreen shrub usually two to three feet tall. It grows in dry, sandy scrub and sandhill habitats. Its densely arranged, opposite leaves are short and needle-like, with fine whitish hairs giving the foliage a gray-green appearance. Crushed leaves release a minty scent. The pale lavender to purplish-white flowers have two lips; the broad, three-lobed lower lip bears dark purple spots, while the stamens lie beneath the upper lip. Fine hairs also cover the calyx and corolla. Flowering is strongest in spring but can continue through much of the year. Photographed in Florida.