Whorled horsebalm is an erect, rhizomatous, perennial, native wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) found from Ohio east to the southeastern United States and is somewhat scattered. In southwestern North Carolina, it is found in rich forests ranging from moist cove forests unique to the Appalachian Mountains to dry oak forests over dense rocky areas rich in minerals and limestone. This plant grows from 6 to 18 inches tall on an unbranched stem. There are several pairs of opposite green leaves with toothed margins along the stems, but just below the flower, two pairs of leaves are arranged so closely together that they appear whorled. The flowers appear from late April to June on a terminal raceme with pinkish-white blooms. A tiny nutlet is produced from June to July. The specific epithet, verticillata , is Latin for "whorled," referring to the species leaf appearance below each flower. Grows as a woodland plant in rich soils in partial shade. This wildflower is the host plant for both the Owlet (Noctuidae) and the White-fringed Pyrausta ( Pyrausta niveicilialis) moths, as well as the Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly. Whorled horsebalm is a vulnerable species due to its limited range, as per the United States Forest Service. In North Carolina, it is ranked S2 or highly vulnerable by the North Carolina Heritage Program. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There is limited data available.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Mountains
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are green, elliptical to ovate, measuring 5 to 6 inches long, and up to 3 inches wide with serrate margins. Several pairs of opposite leaves appear along the stem, but just below the inflorescence, the top 2 pairs are closely arranged, giving the appearance of a whorled pattern. The leaves are borne on short petioles, 0.5 to 1.5 inches long. Hairs are seen along the veins on the upper and lower surface.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are borne on a 4- to 6-inch-long raceme from late April to June. Each bloom is about 3/4 inches long and pink to whitish-pink. Flowers are in groups of 3 to 6 at each node in the inflorescence. They have 4 stamens on long filaments and are covered with glandular hairs. The tubular flower has lanceolate lobes that are two times the length of the tube. The lower lip of the corolla is fringed is as wide as it is long. Its stamens and pistils extend beyond the corolla.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit detail
Fruit is a dry, nutlet and displays from June to July.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The stems are green to greenish-purple and erect.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Ohio to Southeastern United States
Distribution
Native: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
Wildlife value
This plant attracts birds, bumblebees, and moths.
Attracts
Bees; Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used this wildflower for medicinal purposes--digestive and respiratory problems.