Pycnanthemum muticum, aka ‘Mountain Mint’
Mountain Mint is an under-utilized native perennial that is deserving of much more attention from the home gardener. It is an easy care beauty with stunning glaucous foliage and a flat inflorescence that is highly attractive to many types of pollinators, including short-tongue bees.
I grow three clumps along my downhill side fence garden bed, an area that tends to stay moist and partly shaded. Perfect conditions for mountain mint! This is one of the plants that always elicits a ‘what is THAT plant?’ from visitors to my garden. It is at once, green and gray and silver with white disc florets. Rarely is it not covered by bees. I’ve found that bees flock to it whether it’s in sun or shade, which is a bit unusual since most plants release their nectar and fragrance more heavily in direct sun.
Highly aromatic with a pungent minty scent, similar to calamintha, the leaves can be used for teas and salads. Herbalists have long used this native to treat a variety of ailments. As with all plants in the mint family, it helps repel deer and rabbits, and the crushed leaves can repel mosquitoes when rubbed on the skin.
how to grow pycnanthemum muticum
Mountain mint appreciates at least 4 hours of direct or dappled sun. Plants in shadier locations may need staking. While not invasive, mountain mint will spread by rhizomes if happy, but is easily controlled. Plant next to maroon foliage shrubs like beauty berry or smoke bush or the annual castor bean plant for a stunning foliar display!
Plant type: perennial, native to Northeastern US
Growing Conditions: part sun/part shade; evenly moist soil; can handle wet areas
Size: reaches 30" in height x 24” wide
Spread: 2-3', spreads without being invasive
Bloom: late July into October in Zone 5b
Maintenance: none
Biodiversity: wildly popular with pollinators
Pairings: purple foliage shrubs/perennials/annuals
Location: appreciates a bit of support in back; grows well along a fence or stone wall
Host plant: crocus geometer and hermit sphinx moths