An erect perennial, 3-5 feet tall. The erect square branching stem is hairy and soft. Leaves are pointed, opposite, oblong or cordate with scalloped edges. It has a long leaf stalk with the top being green and grayish green, with whitish hairs underneath. The flowers are in whorled spikes of two-lipped, white or blue, spotted with lavender clusters. A native of Europe, now found throughout the U.S. in fields, on dry banks waste places and chalky or gravely soil.

The tender leaves are added to salads, and to flavor meat. It is a anodyne, antispasmodic, aromatic, calmative, carminative, and diaphoretic. The root and mint scent leaf intoxicates cats and repels rats and flea beetles. A tea from the leaves and flowering tops, 2 cups a day are historically used to treat colds, calm upset stomachs, for scalp problems, to reduce fevers and sooth headaches. Steep for 1O minutes, 2 teaspoons of the herb to 1/2 cup boiling water. The mild sedative action soothes babies with colic. Fresh leaves are used in making a poultice for bruises. They are put into cat toys.