Conradina canescens 'Gray Mound'

The Silver Sage of the Southern Shore

There are plants that whisper of place, that tell the story of sun, salt, and sand with every leaf—and Conradina canescens 'Gray Mound' is among them. This low-growing, evergreen shrub—compact, serene, and silvery—is a native of the deep, pine-fringed sands of the Northern Gulf Coast, where it once mingled with sea oats and the slow breath of longleaf pines.

A member of the mint family, this aromatic rarity has soft, needle-like foliage shaded in ghostly silver-gray, like the misted beard of some wise coastal hermit. From spring into early summer, and occasionally again with fall’s cool touch, it offers a flush of pale lavender to bluish-gray tubular flowers, drawing in pollinators with quiet but sure invitation.

The cultivar ‘Gray Mound’ is a special Woodlanders selection: prized for its dense, tidy, and mound-forming habit. While wild Conradina canescens can vary in leaf color and shape, 'Gray Mound' is remarkably uniform—spreading gently in well-drained, sandy soils with a sculpted elegance that makes it a perfect choice for dry native landscapes, xeriscapes, and coastal restorations.

A plant of place and story, it was first brought to botanical attention in the 19th century during explorations of Florida’s coastal scrub habitats. It has since become a symbol of the Gulf South’s unique flora—resilient, subtle, and fragrant when brushed by hand or breeze.

Historical Note:

The genus Conradina is named for the German-American botanist Solomon White Conrad (1779–1831), a scholar and geologist whose quiet devotion to natural history lives on in this spectral plant of the South.

🌿 Highlights for Gardeners and Collectors:

• Native mint shrub of the Northern Gulf Coast (AL, MS, FL panhandle)

• Tidy, low-mounding form ideal for sandy coastal gardens and xeriscapes

• Silvery-gray, needle-like evergreen foliage with a soft texture

• Pale lavender to bluish tubular flowers, beloved by native bees and butterflies

• Drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun and well-drained, sandy soil

• Deer-resistant, aromatic, and low-maintenance once established

• Selected by Woodlanders for superior form and uniform foliage

• Great for coastal restoration, dry meadows, and naturalistic planting schemes

• A living relic of Southern coastal ecology, echoing the fragrance of maritime breezes