[Horse-mints East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]
Nettle-leaf Horse-mint, Nettle-leaved Horsemint, Nettle-leaf Giant-hyssop, Nettle-leaved Giant Hyssop
Agastache urticifolia var. urticifola
Synonym: Agastache urticifolia
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The photo at left shows the paired upper stem leaves and inflorescence of nettle-leaf horse-mint as seen at Wilson Creek, a BLM site several miles south of US Highway 2 in central Washington.........June 22, 2006. The inflorescence is both axillary in the upper pairs of stem leaves as well as consisting as terminal spike. The photo at right shows nettle-leaf horse-mint blooming along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 on the west side of Twelvemile Peak, Fremont-Winema National Forest......July 16, 2022.
The photo at right shows a close-up of the narrow, tubular flowers of nettle-leaf horse-mint. Photographed at Wilson Creek in central Washington.......June 22, 2006.
Characteristics:
Nettle-leaf horse-mint is a simple to many branched, green perennial,
with square stems extending from 40-140 cm high. Plants are strongly aromatic
with the herbage ranging from glabrous to covered with downward facing hairs
which are either fine and short or longer, stiff,,, and appressed to
the stem. The leaves, which are opposite along the stems, are narrowly to broadly
triangular, or heart-shaped in outline with round-toothed margins. The blades
range from 3.5-10 cm long and 2-8 cm wide and are strongly net-veined. The petioles
measure 1-5 cm long. The leaves are reminiscent to those of stinging nettles,
but lack the stingers.
The inflorescence is a dense terminal spike from 3-15 cm long. The calyx is
narrowly funnel-shaped, 8-10 mm long, often glandular and often tipped with
lanceolate to triangular lobes from 3-5 mm long. The calyx lobes are distinctly
3-veined and often tinged with lavender or purple. The white corolla is narrowly
funnel-shaped, two-lipped, and 10-14 mm long (as measured from its base to the
tip of the upper lip). The upper lip is 1-2 mm long and shallowly bi-lipped
while the lower lip is longer, broader and 3-lobed. The lower pair of stamens
ascend and extend 2-3 mm beyond the upper lip while the upper pair of stamens
descend and extend past the lower lip from 4-7 mm.
Nettle-leaf horse-mint is a good nectar source for butterflies, often to the
extent that is literally covered with fritillaries as well as other species.
With its aromatic nature, attractive foliage, and ability to attract butterflies,
this species would probably make a good wildflower for the dryland garden. It
provides decent forage for cattle and is good forage for sheep, deer and elk.
Typically, it increases with overgrazing. The seeds may be eaten both raw or
cooked.
Habitat:
Open slopes and draws in sagebrush country, from the foothills
to rather high up in the mountains.
Range:
Nettle-leaf Horse-mint is found from southeastern British Columbia
south through central Washington, extending east of the Cascades through Oregon
into California, and eastward to the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
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Masses of nettleleaf horsemint at left blooming on slopes along Summit Drive, Umatilla National Forest......July 24, 2012. The photo at right shows a large mass of nettleleaf horsemint blooming along the Stubblefield Lake Trail adjacent to the southern Pine Lakes, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge......Jully 4, 2018.
The photo above shows the serrate-margined
leaves of nettle-leaf horse-mint as seen at Wilson Creek, a BLM site several miles south of US Highway 2 in central Washington........June 22, 2006.
Nettle-leaf horsemint as seen at Steptoe Butte in eastern Washington......June 22, 2009. Note the fritillary butterflies nectaring on some of the flowers.
Close-up of the inflorescence of nettle-leaf horsemint as seen at Steptoe Butte in eastern Washington.......June 22, 2009.
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The photo above shows a close-up (left) of the inflorescence of nettle-leaf horse-mint as seen along Hat Point Road near Saddle Creek Campground in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area........July 11, 2007. The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of nettle-leaf horse-mint in a pot at the webmaster's yard in Gresham, OR.........July 6, 2016.
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Two habitat views of nettle-leaf horsemint from along Sourdough Creek, Asotin Wildlife Area and Umatilla National Forest......June 16, 2023.
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Additional close-ups of the inflorescence of nettleleaf horsemint as seen near the Roads End Trailhead, Strawberry Mt. Wilderness.........August 19, 2011.
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Nettleleaf horsemint as seen at the Rooster Comb, Steens Mountain........July 9, 2014.
Paul Slichter