Hoary Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum icanum
Stephanie Brundage, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Summary
Mountain Mint is a party on a plant! Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and other beneficial insects all enjoy the bounty of nectar offered by Pycnanthemum spp.
The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden showcases four different species of native mountain mint, all of them stellar native plants for attracting a flurry of insect activity. In fact, research has found mountain mint to be one of the most beneficial plants around for supporting pollinators. The many members of this family are closely related and difficult to distinguish from one another; however, hoary mountain mint can be distinguished by the hoary (whitish) appearance of the upper leaves and bracts. It also has somewhat larger blooms with a more purplish hue. All mountain mints have a very strong minty scent when crushed, which deters deer and other mammals from snacking on them. Hoary mountain mint forms large colonies, and is best suited for naturalized plantings where it has room to roam.
More Details
FAMILY
Lamiaceae (Mint)
BLOOM TIME
July-August
FLOWER
White tinged with lavender
MATURE SIZE
2-3 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Full sun to part shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Average, well-drained soil
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
Hoary mountain mint is a larval food plant for the wavy-lined emerald (Synchlora aerata). Its flowers are highly attractive to butterflies (especially smaller species like hairstreaks), moths, flies, and predatory wasps, and it is noted as being of special value for native bees and honey bees.