Crested late-summer-mint
Elsholtzia ciliata
Synonyms: Elsholtzia saxatilis, Mentha baikalensis, Mentha perilloides, Elsholtzia cyprianii var. longipilosa, Mentha ovata, Elsholtzia cristata f. ruderalis, Elsholtzia cristata f. leucantha, Elsholtzia splendens var. hallasanensis, Sideritis ciliata, Elsholtzia cristata var. saxatilis, Elsholtzia ciliata f. leucantha, Elsholtzia communis var. longipilosa, Hyssopus ocymifolius, Elsholtzia splendens f. albiflora, Elsholtzia formosana, Elsholtzia cristata f. saxatilis, Mentha cristata, Elsholtzia cristata var. ramosa, Elsholtzia ciliata var. remota, Elsholtzia ciliata var. ramosa, Elsholtzia ciliata var. duplicatocrenata, Elsholtzia ciliata var. depauperata, Elsholtzia pseudocristata, Elsholtzia springia, Perilla polystachya, Elsholtzia ciliata var. brevipes, Elsholtzia patrinii, Mentha patrinii, Elsholtzia ciliata var. minima, Hyssopus bracteatus, Sideritis ciliata var. mokpoensis, Elsholtzia interrupta, Elsholtzia pseudocristata var. saxatilis, Elsholtzia hallasanensis f. albiflora, Elsholtzia hallasanensis, Elsholtzia cristata, Elsholtzia serotina
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Elsholtzia ciliata, the crested late-summer-mint or Vietnamese balm, is an erect aromatic annual herb in the Lamiaceae family native to temperate and subtropical eastern Asia and widely naturalised elsewhere. The plant grows thirty to seventy centimetres tall with slender, four-angled, finely hairy stems that branch in the upper part. The opposite leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, four to nine centimetres long, with bluntly toothed margins, prominent venation, and short petioles; crushed foliage releases a sharp lemon-mint fragrance. From late summer into autumn the plant produces distinctive one-sided terminal spikes three to ten centimetres long, in which small two-lipped pale pinkish-purple flowers are crowded against rounded fringed bracts that overlap shingle-like, giving the inflorescence its crested appearance. The fruits are four small smooth ellipsoid nutlets enclosed in the persistent calyx.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.