Also called the short-toothed or blunt mountain mint, Pycnanthemum muticum is a top-rated pollinator plant that is valued for the sheer number and variety of pollinators it attracts.
- Long flowering season
- Leaves emit a lovely spearmint aroma when brushed against
- Deer and rabbit resistant
Details
- 3 to 4 ft. tall
- Spreads via underground stems and can form colonies 4 to 6 ft.+ across
- Small cream-colored flowers are surrounded by silvery modified leaves, or bracts
- In the South, the basal growth (lower leaves) remain green through the winter
- Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
Flowering period
In central North Carolina, flowering starts in mid-June and continues for about two months.
How to grow
Grow in full sun or part shade with at least 6 hours of direct sun to keep stems sturdy and upright. Plants tolerate a wide variety of soil types from dry to wet. To prevent plants from expanding outside their allotted space, avoid planting in fertile soil.
Care and maintenance
While clustered mountain mint is vigorous, it can easily be kept in bounds by annually taking a spade and digging around the perimeter of the plant. The pieces outside the perimeter are at or just below the soil level and are easy to pull up.
Where to plant
Perfect for those tough spots that are too demanding for other plants to grow. Grow in meadows, on steep banks, and at the edge of woods, where less-than-ideal conditions will keep a check on its vigor.
When to plant
Spring and the fall are the best times, but they can be planted in the summer if plants are watered until they get established.
Spacing
Depending on how fast you want plants to fill in, space plants between 2 to 5 feet apart.
When will my plant flower?
Plants shipped in winter and spring will flower in the summer.
Native habitat and range
Low meadows and in moist open woodlands. Native in scattered locations throughout most of the eastern United States.
Source and origin
Plants are propagated from cuttings taken here at the nursery.
Comments
Leaves can be made into a refreshing herbal tea and was used historically by Native Americans to treat a wide variety of illnesses.
| States | Orders up to $50 | Orders $51 to $100 | Orders over $100 |
| AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV | $16 | $18 | $20 |
| AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WI | $18 | $20 | $22 |
| IA, KS, ME, MN, OK, and TX | $20 | $22 | $24 |
| CO, NE, ND, and SD | $22 | $24 | $26 |
Sorry, we can't ship plants outside of the continental United States or to AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA due to agriculture restrictions.
When will my order be shipped?All plants are shipped within two weeks of placing an order.
Is it okay to plant in the winter?Yes, as long as the soil is not frozen. Planting native perennials in winter and early spring gives your plants a head start before the summer heat arrives.
What if it’s too cold to plant where I live, but I want to buy a plant before it sells out?Dormant plants can safely be kept in a basement, garage, or cool room until you are ready to plant in late winter or early spring.
How will my plants get delivered?Most orders are shipped on Monday or Tuesday via UPS Ground, which depending on the destination takes between 1 to 4 days.
Are your plants shipped in their containers?Yes, all our plants are shipped in their growing containers. The majority are grown in containers that are 4.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 32 fl. oz. / 946 ml in volume.
Do you guarantee your plants?We guarantee our plants to be healthy, ready for planting and correctly named. We are not able to guarantee whether a plant will grow in your garden as there are too many circumstances that are beyond our control.
On rare occasions, a plant shipped dormant may fail to emerge from its dormancy. If this happens, please let us know. If you are concerned about a plant, please contact us within 14 days to let us know. If we can’t help you make it grow, we’ll send you a new plant or issue a refund.
You can return your plants if you no longer want them once they arrive. To receive a refund (minus 15% restocking fee) the plants must be returned in good condition. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility.
Can I cancel my order?Yes, you can cancel your order. Please visit our terms and service page for details.
What about sales tax?We propagate our own plants and are not required to collect North Carolina sales tax.
Where can I find information about your plants?Here are some FAQ on how we grow plants.