[3] It includes several species of plants known commonly as pitchersages (also pitcher sages).

[5][6][7] Many of them bear attractive pitcher-shaped flowers, often in shades of purple.

The genus was named for the Russian botanist Ivan Ivanovich Lepechin.

[8] In 2011, the two monotypic genera Chaunostoma and Neoeplingia were shown to be part of Lepechinia.

[9] As of February 2024[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[2]