How to Grow and Care for Isodon

This prolific, tough, water-loving perennial can sometimes make a nuisance of itself in rice paddies, making crested flower Isodon a crop weed in countries such as Vietnam. It does have very pretty purple flowers, and its seeds can sometimes be found for sale from rare plant nurseries and seed exchanges. It is a relative of catnip.

Trumpet spur flower is a rare woodland perennial that produces magnificent tubular blue blooms resembling sharp spurs; presumably giving rise to its common name. When cultivated, trumpet spur flower is often used in cottage gardens or Japanese-style gardens.

The perennial isodon inflexus generally grows in thickets and thin woods. Its Japanese name is yama hakka, which means mountain mint. It has pale blue to purple blooms and the blooms may appear between September and October. The leaves are oval with coarsely serrated margins. The flowers' lips are often described as similar to a boat's appearance.

Used as a traditional medicine in Korea, east asian soup-mint is a perennial herb that is found in grasslands, thickets, and woodlands in the wild. East asian soup-mint is currently being investigated for its pharmaceutical values. It is noted for its paper-like leaves.

Isodon excisus typically flourishes in alpine regions, its robust growth adapted to cooler climates and rocky soils. Its stature is compact, with serrated leaves and a penchant for purple-hued, tubular flowers that cluster at the stems' tips, drawing pollinators. Such adaptations ensure survival amidst rugged terrain and limited nutrition.