Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

from $3.50

The Mountain Mints are pollinator magnets, and this one is no exception. The small white flowers last for weeks and are very attractive to many native bees, butterflies, and skippers (illinoiswildflower.info). It is considered a preferred pollinator plant by the Xerces Society (Xerces.org). Due to its strong fragrance, mammalian herbivores typically avoid browsing on this plant. Slender Mountain Mint spreads by rhizomes to form small colonies and can be quite vigorous, so choose your planting spot wisely. If you can find a place for these plants, you will be amazed at the number of different insects visiting at any given time.

Photo credit: Doug McGrady

Size:

The Mountain Mints are pollinator magnets, and this one is no exception. The small white flowers last for weeks and are very attractive to many native bees, butterflies, and skippers (illinoiswildflower.info). It is considered a preferred pollinator plant by the Xerces Society (Xerces.org). Due to its strong fragrance, mammalian herbivores typically avoid browsing on this plant. Slender Mountain Mint spreads by rhizomes to form small colonies and can be quite vigorous, so choose your planting spot wisely. If you can find a place for these plants, you will be amazed at the number of different insects visiting at any given time.

Photo credit: Doug McGrady

Life Cycle: Perennial  

Sun Exposure: Full-Partial, but seems to prefer full sun

Soil Moisture: Medium/wet-Medium/dry

Height: 1-3 feet

Plant Spacing:  1-1.5 feet

Bloom Time: June-September

Bloom Color: White

Advantages: Deer Resistant, Pollinator Favorite, Recommended, but can be vigorous

Host: 4 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)

Complementary Plants: Bee balm, Ironweeds, Blazing star, Nodding wild onion, , Joe-Pye weeds, Swamp milkweed, Turtlehead, Blue lobelia

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