[1][2] Blephilia are most often found in open areas, glades, and mesic forests.

[3] [4][5] [6] The genus includes only perennial species that spread by both seeds and through stem division.

Small white to purple-lavender flowers occur in inflorescences that cluster in the upper leaf axils, often in several circular layers (hence the common name pagoda-plant).

Leaves are generally lanceolate to ovate and vary in shades of green.

[5] Like many other members of the subtribe Menthinae, all parts of Blephilia are highly aromatic when crushed and have smells similar to menthol and spearmint.