Nettleleaf giant hyssop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nettleleaf giant hyssop |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Agastache
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| Species: |
urticifolia
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Agastache urticifolia is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family. People often call it nettleleaf giant hyssop or horse mint. This plant is known for its pleasant smell. It grows wild in many parts of western North America.
Where It Grows
This plant is native to western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to California and over to Colorado in the United States. It grows well in many different kinds of places.
What It Looks Like
Nettleleaf giant hyssop is a plant that comes back every year. It has a straight stem that grows upwards. The leaves are spread out along the stem. Each leaf is shaped like a spear or a triangle. They also have jagged edges, like teeth.
The leaves can grow up to 8 centimeters long. They can also be up to 7 centimeters wide. The flowers grow in a thick cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a dense spike. Each flower has long parts called sepals. These sepals are tipped with bright purple. The flowers themselves are shaped like tubes. They come in shades of pink and purple. After the flowers, the plant makes small fruits. These fruits are light brown and a bit fuzzy. They are only about 2 millimeters long.
How People Use It
People have found many uses for the nettleleaf giant hyssop plant. The dried leaves and flowers can be used to make a tasty tea.
Long ago, some Native American groups used this plant for medicine. They especially used the leaves. It was thought to help with things like upset stomachs and colds. It was also used to treat aches in the body.
