Old Blue False Pennyroyal: A Ghost from Texas Gardens
Have you ever heard of a plant so rare that it might only exist in old herbarium specimens? Meet old blue false pennyroyal (Hedeoma pilosa), a mysterious native Texas wildflower that tells a sobering story about plant conservation. This little-known member of the mint family represents one of botany’s most concerning categories: a species that may have vanished from the wild entirely.
What Is Old Blue False Pennyroyal?
Old blue false pennyroyal is a perennial forb—essentially a non-woody flowering plant that comes back year after year. Like other members of the Hedeoma genus, it belongs to the mint family and likely possessed the characteristic square stems and aromatic leaves that make these plants so distinctive. As a forb, it would have been a low-growing plant without significant woody tissue, storing energy in underground structures to survive from season to season.
Where Did It Call Home?
This native Texas species was historically found only in the Lone Star State, making it what botanists call an endemic species. Unfortunately, we may never see it growing wild in Texas again—Hedeoma pilosa carries the troubling conservation status of SH, meaning it’s possibly extirpated. In plain English, this means the plant is known only from historical records, with botanists holding onto a slim hope that it might still exist somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered.
A Plant Lost to Time
Here’s where the story becomes both fascinating and heartbreaking. Old blue false pennyroyal represents a cautionary tale about biodiversity loss. While we know it once grew in Texas and was significant enough to receive a scientific name, much of what we might want to know about this plant—its exact appearance, growing requirements, ecological role, and garden potential—remains a mystery.
Should You Try to Grow It?
The short answer is: you probably can’t, and you shouldn’t try. Here’s why:
- Rarity concerns: With a conservation status indicating possible extinction, any remaining plants (if they exist) need protection, not harvesting
- Unavailable in trade: You won’t find this species at nurseries or through reputable seed companies
- Unknown requirements: Without documented growing conditions, successful cultivation would be nearly impossible
- Conservation ethics: Attempting to obtain this plant could potentially harm any remaining wild populations
Better Alternatives for Texas Gardens
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing native Texas mints, consider these related and available alternatives:
- American pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides): A close relative that’s more widely available
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Another native mint family member with showy flowers
- Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica): For aromatic foliage in Texas landscapes
The Bigger Picture
Old blue false pennyroyal serves as a reminder of why native plant conservation matters. Every time we choose native species for our gardens, we’re supporting the biodiversity that makes our local ecosystems function. While we may have lost this particular species, we can still make a difference by:
- Choosing documented native plants for our gardens
- Supporting organizations that work to protect rare species
- Avoiding invasive species that can crowd out natives
- Learning about and appreciating our local flora
Sometimes the most powerful plant stories are about the ones we’ve lost. Old blue false pennyroyal may be gone, but its memory can inspire us to better protect the native species that remain. After all, every thriving native garden is a small act of conservation—and perhaps a hedge against future botanical disappearances.
