Getting to know Native Plants by Richard Stromberg
American Pennyroyal
Have you smelled a strong mint odor while walking across a field or through the woods? You probably stepped on or brushed American Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides). You usually don’t see this small plant (4-18 inches tall), only smell it. Its flowers are small, about 1/16th of an inch diameter.
We grow many members of the Mint Family (Lamiaceae) for fragrance and flavoring besides the mints themselves: basil, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme. I think Pennyroyal has the most potent odor.