Variable hairy perennial herb to about 1.5 m tall and woody at the base. Leaves, at least at the base, more or less ovate, to 8 cm long, 5 cm wide. Flower clusters with mostly more than 12 flowers per whorl. Flowers with the corolla 1-1.5 cm long, lilac to pink or white; spring to summer.

N Africa, Eurasia

A weed of disturbed sites in NSW and Vic.

 

B. pseudodictamnus Benth. from the Aegean and B. acetabulosa Benth. from the E Mediterranean are occasionally cultivated.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Lamiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.