dwarf false pennyroyal

Hedeoma nana is a perennial herb (occasionally woody at the base) typically 10–25 cm tall, often branching from the base with wiry stems. The leaves are small, opposite, and finely glandular, sometimes releasing a mild minty fragrance when crushed. The flowers are arranged in small clusters at the leaf axils, with tubular corollas usually in shades of blue-purple or pinkish hues, and bloom from spring through fall in much of its range.

This species is native to the southwestern and south-central United States — including Arizona, California (especially the Mojave and other desert regions), Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah — and extends into northeastern Mexico. It typically grows in rocky calcareous slopes, desert scrub, pinyon-juniper woodland, and other open, dry habitats at elevations ranging from low valleys to mountainous regions.

As a member of the mint family, Hedeoma nana produces nectar-rich flowers that attract a variety of insects. It is adapted to dry conditions and often contributes to the floral diversity of desert and semi-arid plant communities.