[4] It belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is the only species in the Cunila genus native to the United States.

Cunila origanoides is a low, shrublike plant with square, stiff, branching stems, growing 15–46 cm (0.5–1.5 ft) tall.

In the spring, the stems are purple, turning red when the plant is in bloom, then brown and woody in the fall.

[7][8] Small purple or lavender flowers, measuring up to 0.8 cm (0.3 in) long, appear in clusters of cymes at the end of branches.

[8] The plant blooms in the late summer and fall, and butterflies, bees, and other insects are attracted to the flowers.