SafePlants

Conradina grandiflora: Largeflower False Rosemary

Conradina grandiflora is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is known by the common names largeflower false rosemary and large-flowered rosemary. Despite the common name referencing rosemary, it is actually related to mint.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has needle-shaped leaves.
• This plant has aromatic foliage.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy:

• Scientific Name: Conradina grandiflora
• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
• Synonyms: The text also mentions Conradina canescens as False Rosemary and notes that Conradina canescens (Torr. & A. Gray ex Benth.) A. Gray is a synonym for false rosemary.
• Etymology: The specific epithet grandiflora means "with large flowers."

Common Names:

• Largeflower False Rosemary
• Large-flowered Rosemary
• Large False Rosemary
• Scrub Mint

Distribution and Habitat:

This plant is native to Wild South Florida, growing on hot, dry sand.

Morphological Characteristics:

• It is a perennial flowering shrub, growing 1-3 feet tall.
• The flowers are relatively large for the genus (15-20mm) and appear in cymes of 1-12. They are 2-lipped, near-white to lilac, and sometimes have dots on the corolla.
• The leaves are needle-shaped and aromatic.
• Stems can be stiff and straight, making them suitable for cut flower arrangements.

Quirky Facts:

• There is a story that rosemary flowers were once white but turned blue when the Virgin Mary draped her cloak over a bush while fleeing Herod's troops.