Collinsonia canadensis 'Cumberland'

It's hard to find many perennials that flower in the fall woodland garden, and even more difficult to find any North American natives that fit the bill. Enter Collinsonia, named after 18th century botanical trader, Peter Collinson. Collinsonia canadensis is a shade-loving bush mint with a wide native range from Vermont to Louisiana. What we can't figure out is why it isn't more widely grown, since it grows in both acidic and alkaline soils, is easy-to-grow, and is ignored by deer. The deciduous clumps emerge in spring with 4' tall stalks, clothed with large hydrangea-like fuzzy green leaves. Starting for us in late summer, the terminal spikes emerge, each consisting of hundreds of small yellow flowers...a magnet for native bees. Collinsonia has a long medicinal history for urinary/kidney ailments, as well its roots being used to make teas...we're not "teasing." Our plant genetics are from a Cumberland Plateau collection.