Use leaves fresh or dried for culinary purposes. Blooms in shades of pink to purple from midsummer through fall. For cut-flower use, harvest flowers in bud stage for best color.

• Attracts Beneficial Insects: Provides pollen and nectar for beneficial insects such as bees, hoverflies, lacewing larva, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies.

• Edible Flowers: Use the flowers, which have a mild and marjoram-like flavor, as you would the herb to garnish salads, soups, stews, sauces, and stuffing