These attractive and very aromatic mints are not often noticed and tend to be superficially confused with more common species, such as Clinopodium vulgare, Prunella vulgaris, and Monarda sp., which generally have straighter and often sparser hairs on the stem and inflorescence than does Blephilia (especially B. hirsuta). The flowers are strikingly dark-spotted, unlike any similar species, except for Monarda punctata. 

1. Bracts of inflorescence ovate, with short-acuminate tip, appressed, the lower ones of each whorl nearly or fully concealing the calyces beneath; stem unbranched; upper leaves sessile or with a short (to 4 or rarely 7 mm) petiole.

B. ciliata

1. Bracts of inflorescence mostly narrowly linear-subulate to lanceolate, becoming ± reflexed, not at all concealing the calyces; stems usually branched; upper leaves with petiole 9-18 (-27) mm long.

B. hirsuta