Pycnanthemum spp.
Mountain mint is a ravishing, aromatic herb that pulls bees and butterflies like a magnet.
In case you’re fascinated with offering pollinators with meals and habitat, add a number of of those crops to your yard or backyard!
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This perennial herb holds a particular place in my coronary heart, and I hope that once you develop your personal, it can have one in yours as effectively.
On this article you’ll learn to propagate silvery-hued mountain mint, what sort of sunshine, water, and soil situations it wants, in addition to concepts about how you can use it within the panorama.
Right here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll cowl:
Earlier than we get began, let me let you know – mountain mint is the plant that turned me right into a native plant convert.
A few years in the past, I purchased a small pot of clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) from a neighborhood native plant sale in North Carolina, anticipating enjoyable alternatives to witness bumblebees or possibly some honey bees visiting my backyard.
I didn’t anticipate what truly occurred.
When my clump of P. muticum bloomed, there was an all out pollinator social gathering in my yard. It was as if a message went out calling all useful bugs far and large to attend. I couldn’t even rely the variety of completely different species I used to be seeing!
I witnessed this spectacle with awe and skilled first hand the ability of rising native crops.
Chances are you’ll be considering that my pollinator parade was merely anecdotal, however truly, my expertise was not distinctive.
Researchers reminiscent of Kaitlin Swiantek on the College of Florida have carried out research on the Pycnanthemum genus, and located that these crops appeal to an enormous range of useful bugs.
In one of many research, it was decided that mountain mints are much more standard than milkweeds and goldenrods, that are identified to be wildly engaging to pollinators.
Positive, non-US native crops like zinnias and cosmos will appeal to bees and even hummingbirds. However natives like Pycnanthemum species take wildlife care to a different degree.
We’ll be focusing totally on P. muticum on this article, however we’ll cowl a number of different species from this genus as effectively, so hold studying to be taught extra!
What Is Mountain Mint?
P. muticum, also referred to as clustered mountain mint, is an evergreen perennial that has a clump forming development behavior, with crops reaching one to a few toes tall and large.
Oval- or spear-shaped leaves are darkish inexperienced, have toothed margins, and develop reverse on branching, sq. stems. This foliage has a pleasant, minty perfume.
Inflorescences seem on the ends of stems in summer time, and the flower heads have giant, grayish white bracts that give the entire plant a silvery look.
The precise flowers are small, have two lips, and are white, pink, lavender, or blue in shade.
Cultivation and Historical past
Native to the US and Canada, the Pycnanthemum genus incorporates 19 species, 13 of that are present in mountain mint scorching spot North Carolina.
Habitats for these species are numerous, together with moist and dry woodlands, sandy soils, rocky slopes, streambanks, meadows and clearings, prairies, thickets, and moist bluffs.
The Pycnanthemum genus is categorized taxonomically within the mint household, Lamiaceae.
Members of this genus are associated to a various array of backyard staples together with peppermint, basil, coleus, in addition to houseplant favorites reminiscent of Swedish ivy.
Throughout the true mint subtribe, Pycnanthemum is carefully associated to bee balm, one other pollinator favourite.
One of the widespread members of this genus, P. muticum is native to the japanese central and japanese US.
In its native vary, mountain mint is present in fields, meadows, and open woodlands, and might be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to eight.
As already famous, this genus is a wonderful selection for wildlife care. In reality the College of Georgia State Botanical Backyard named mountain mint one of many Pollinator Crops of the Yr for 2022.
And naturally, as you would possibly count on from an fragrant plant, you should utilize the leaves of this perennial as a refreshing natural tea!
Mountain Mint Propagation
Prepared to start out rising this aromatic perennial? Mountain mint might be propagated by way of seeds, cuttings, division, or transplanting.
From Seed
You may develop mountain mint from seed, however for improved germination charges, seeds want a chilly, damp stratification interval.
To attain this, sprinkle the seeds on a moist paper towel. Fold the paper towel in half, then half once more, and place it in a plastic bag. Retailer the plastic bag within the fridge for one to 2 months.
After the stratification interval, collect your provides: you’ll want four-inch nursery pots, rising medium, and a twig bottle for watering.
Glass Spray Bottle With Adjustable Nozzle
Do you want a twig bottle for tasks like these? Yow will discover a glass spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle out there by way of Amazon.
Fill the nursery pots with moist rising medium, reminiscent of Rosy Soil’s Seedling seed beginning soil combine, out there for buy by way of Amazon.
Rosy Soil Seedling Seed Beginning Soil Combine
When filling the nursery pots, depart a spot of about an inch between the floor of the soil and the rim of the pot.
Take a number of seeds and press them onto the floor of the soil, however don’t cowl them – they want mild for germination.
Moisten the rising medium with a twig bottle, and place the pots in a location with vivid oblique mild, and hold them in a temperature vary of 65 to 75˚F, utilizing backside warmth if wanted.
You may hold seedlings heat by putting them on a warmth mat, such because the Leap Begin Warmth Mat from the Hydrofarm Retailer, out there for buy in an assortment of sizes by way of Amazon.
Preserve the soil moist however not soggy as seeds germinate and seedlings turn out to be established.
If began indoors, harden seedlings off once they have a number of true leaves earlier than planting out.
To do that, transfer them open air to a protected, shady location for an hour or so, regularly rising the period of time and direct publicity to solar and wind over the course of a few week.
As soon as these younger mountain mint crops are hardened off, they are going to be prepared for transplanting.
Whereas seeds can be sown immediately open air in fall, your probabilities of success can be a lot larger when beginning them in pots, for the reason that seeds are so tiny.
Save your self some disappointment and use pots as a substitute of direct seeding.
From Cuttings
The very best time to propagate mountain mint from cuttings is in early summer time. For this venture, you’ll want rising medium, rooting hormone, and four-inch nursery pots.
It’s alright to reuse outdated nursery pots however make sure you clear and sterilize them first.
Put together the pots first by filling them with moist rising medium, leaving a spot of about an inch between the floor of the soil and the rim of the pot.
Utilizing sterilized backyard pruners, take 4 inch cuttings, making your minimize slightly below a set of leaves. Snip off the underside set of leaves from every reducing.
Dip the tip of the reducing in rooting hormone reminiscent of Olivia’s Cloning Gel, out there for buy in an array of jar sizes from Arbico Organics.
Olivia’s Cloning Gel
Poke a gap within the middle of the rising medium, then insert the reducing, firming the potting medium across the base. Place these in dappled shade and hold the rising medium moist.
The reducing ought to kind roots in a number of weeks – you possibly can examine by pulling on the stem to see if it resists pulling out of the rising medium.
As soon as the mountain mint reducing is rooted, regularly acclimate it to direct daylight by rising solar publicity over a interval of a few week.
After this acclimatization interval, your reducing can be able to transplant.
By Division
Mountain mint grows from rhizomes, which might be divided when crops are dormant, both in late fall or early spring.
Earlier than you begin dividing this herb, a day or two forward of time, water each the mountain mint patch and the transplant location.
The day you’re able to divide, first dig a gap that’s about twice as deep and large as the basis ball of the division you’re planning to separate off from the primary clump.
Take a shovel filled with the soil you simply dug out and blend it with an equal a part of compost, then put this combination again into the opening.
Now it’s time to divide the present clump of mountain mint. Take a shovel and slice by the plant’s roots – you possibly can take half of it or much less for the brand new clump.
Work the shovel beneath the plant’s rhizomes and raise the clump out of the bottom.
Carry the lifted clump to the brand new location, or if wanted, place it into an empty pot to move it.
Place the clump into the opening on high of the combination of soil and compost – regulate the quantity of soil beneath the clump in order that the highest of the plant’s root ball is degree with the bottom.
Water in and canopy the soil across the mountain mint plant with an inch or two of mulch.
Need extra particulars? Discover step-by-step directions for dividing perennials in our information!
Transplanting
After getting a longtime mountain mint seedling or have bought a plant in a nursery pot you’ll must transplant it both to a bigger container or into the bottom.
In case you’d wish to attempt the container methodology, make sure you learn our article about rising herbs in containers.
To transplant a specimen into the bottom, first select a day with mellow climate, if potential, or wait till the late afternoon when the day has cooled off. Cloudy days are perfect for transplanting.
Dig a gap twice as deep and large because the specimen’s nursery pot – plan to permit one to a few toes of house for every plant.
Put a shovel filled with the soil you faraway from the opening again into the opening and blend it with an equal quantity of compost.
Take away the specimen from the nursery pot, loosen its roots, and blend any rising medium that comes off the roots into the opening with the soil and compost.
Place the basis ball into the opening, adjusting the quantity of free soil combination beneath it to maintain the highest of the basis ball degree with the bottom.
When it’s degree, backfill with soil, then water in. If the soil degree sinks in after watering, add extra soil, then pat the soil gently to degree it out.
Water in once more, and canopy the world across the plant with an inch or so of mulch.
If the climate is scorching or dry, make sure you water each couple of days or extra steadily to maintain the soil moist because the plant will get established.
Learn how to Develop Mountain Mint
Mountain mint thrives in full solar or half shade, however flowering can be greatest in full solar.
This silvery herb requires well-draining soil that’s wealthy in natural matter, with a pH between 6.1 and seven.3.
Though it has some drought tolerance, P. muticum grows greatest in reasonable to moist situations, so water crops throughout scorching climate and drought as they get established.
Rising Ideas
- Situate in full solar to half shade.
- Present reasonable to moist situations.
- Develop in soil wealthy in natural matter.
Upkeep
Mountain mint is a low upkeep plant. Upkeep duties embody pruning, in addition to dividing when desired or when a plant is rising past its allotted house in your panorama.
Pruning this perennial is simple. Since this can be a stellar plant for pollinators, ideally you’ll prune to create bee nesting spots.
To do that, depart all of the dried stalks in place over the winter. In spring, minimize just some of those again half means and prune the remainder of the stalks all the way down to the soil.
The stalks left standing will present nesting spots for bees in spring.
Study extra about creating habitat for bees, in addition to different actions you possibly can take to assist them in our article!
As for dividing, this activity is just required if you wish to stop the plant from spreading, which it does slowly, and never prefer it’s bent on taking up the world like its relations within the Mentha genus!
When mountain mint is dormant, you possibly can divide mature crops to maintain them on the desired dimension, as described within the propagation part above.
Mountain Mint Species to Choose
The principle topic of our article is P. muticum, also referred to as clustered, blunt, or quick toothed mountain mint.
Reaching one to a few toes tall and large, this one is thought for its silvery bracts and shallow enamel on the margins of the leaves.
Select this species if you’re within the japanese or japanese central US, Zones 4 to eight, and may present moist rising situations in full solar to half shade.
P. Muticum Dwell Starter Plant
Buy P. muticum as a dwell starter plant in a three-inch pot from Sacred Roots Nursery by way of Walmart.
Along with P. muticum, there are 18 different species of Pycnanthemum.
Listed below are a number of of curiosity:
Bushy Mountain Mint
P. verticillatum var. pilosum, also referred to as P. pilosum, furry, American, or whorled mountain mint, is native to the japanese and central areas of the US.
Reaching one to a few toes tall, this species has slim inexperienced leaves and clusters of small flowers at stem ends and at leaf axils.
It grows in full solar or half shade in dry to medium soils which have good drainage, in Zones 4 to eight.
Bushy Mountain Mint Seeds
Yow will discover P. verticillatum var. pilosum seeds in a number of packet sizes from Everwilde by way of Amazon.
Hoary Mountain Mint
P. incanum, also referred to as hoary mountain mint, is native to the japanese US the place it grows in dry to medium moisture situations, in full solar or half shade.
This perennial reaches two to a few toes tall and has a 3 to 4 foot unfold.
P. incanum has silvery white bracts and higher leaves, giving the entire plant an excellent, silvery white look. Flower clusters are white or white and lavender, and seem at terminal and higher leaf axils.
It is a good selection for Zones 4 to eight in case you just like the appears of P. muticum however want one thing for dryer situations.
Hoary Mountain Mint
You should purchase 0.16-ounce packs of P. incanum seeds from Roundstone Native Seeds LLC by way of Amazon.
Slender Mountain Mint
P. tenuifolium, extra generally often known as slim leaf or slender mountain mint, reaches two to a few toes tall and large.
As its frequent names recommend, it has skinny, needle-like leaves, with clusters of small white flowers on the ends of the stems.
Really useful for Zones 4 to eight, it grows in full solar to half shade, in dry to medium moist soils, and has a large native vary, all through japanese North America.
Slender Mountain Mint
You’ll discover P. tenuifolium seeds in packs of 0.16-ounces from Roundstone Native Seeds LLC by way of Amazon.
Virginia Mountain Mint
Native to japanese North America, Virginia mountain mint (P. virginianium) requires full solar and reasonable moisture.
This species has slim, tapering leaves with clean margins, and clusters of small white flowers on the ends of the stems.
It reaches two to a few toes tall and one to 1 and a half toes large, rising in Zones 3 to 7.
Virginia Mountain Mint
You’ll discover P. virginianium seeds in an assortment of pack sizes from Everwilde Farms by way of Amazon.
Managing Pests and Illness
Mountain mint just isn’t a lot bothered by pests or illnesses, and it’s even proof against deer, gophers, voles, and rabbits.
The one illness which tends to have an effect on this plant is rust, which is extra of an issue when the plant is in irritating situations, reminiscent of throughout occasions of drought or proper after transplanting.
Known as “rust” due to the looks it has on crops, this can be a fungal illness that produces powdery, reddish orange spores on foliage.
You may stop this fungal subject by avoiding situations that can enable it to thrive. Area crops correctly and keep away from watering late within the day – water within the morning as a substitute.
If rust has appeared in your Pycnanthemum specimen, and isn’t widespread, you possibly can take away the affected foliage.
Nonetheless, if rust is current on many of the plant, minimize the foliage again to the bottom and permit the plant to resprout.
Finest Makes use of for Mountain Mint
It’s not exhausting to discover a good use for mountain mint within the panorama!
Aesthetically, it can mix in completely with cottage gardens, herb gardens, edible gardens, and borders.
You can too let it naturalize in open woodlands or meadows.
As for panorama design, P. muticum creates an eye catching, vivid spot with its silvery white bracts.
Select a sort native to your location to develop with native wildflowers.
In case you’re gardening for wildlife, do not forget that these crops have particular worth to bees, together with honeybees, bumblebees, and different varieties of native bees.
Butterflies, and predatory and parasitoid bugs additionally love Pycnanthemum species!
And whereas it’s noble to consider our insect neighbors – don’t overlook to get pleasure from some for your self as effectively – their leaves and flowers can be utilized to make invigoratingly minty natural teas.
Fast Reference Rising Information
| Plant Kind: | Herbaceous perennial | Flower/Foliage Coloration: | White, pink, lavender, blue /inexperienced leaves, silver bracts |
| Native to: | North America | Upkeep: | Low |
| Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 4-8 | Tolerance: | Drought |
| Bloom Time: | Summer time | Soil Kind: | Wealthy in natural matter |
| Publicity: | Full solar, half shade | Soil pH: | 6.1-7.3 |
| Time to Maturity: | 3 months | Soil Drainage: | Nicely-draining |
| Planting Depth: | Floor sow (seeds), high of root ball degree with soil (transplants) | Attracts: | Bees, butterflies, hoverflies, pollinators |
| Spacing: | 1-3 toes | Makes use of: | Bee gardens, borders, butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, edible gardens, erosion management, herb gardens, insectaries, meadows, native gardens, naturalizing, pollinator gardens |
| Peak: | 1-3 toes | Order: | Lamiales |
| Unfold: | 1-3 toes | Household: | Lamiaceae |
| Water Wants: | Average | Genus: | Pycnanthemum |
| Frequent Illness: | Rust | Species: | Incanum , muticum, tenuifolium, verticillatum, virginianium |
Mounds of Silver Are Pollinator Gold
Now that you already know simply how you can develop this aromatic plant, you’ll quickly be prepared to take a seat again and luxuriate in these silvery flowers and watch a parade of pollinators move by!
Are you rising mountain mint – and in that case, which kind? Have you ever began counting pollinator guests but, maybe with the assistance of a citizen scientist app? Tell us within the feedback part under!
Care to delve into extra mint rising data? Now we have extra information for you proper right here: