Slender Mountain Mint

Photo from Ryan Wang

Scientific Description:  Slender Mountain Mint – (Pycnanthemum virginianum) is an herbaceous, fragrant perennial and is a member of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family. It grows well from Texas to Nebraska eastward from Florida and northward into Canada. It produces large quantities of white flowers held in globular heads. The flower spike extends one to two inches on 2- to 4-foot-tall plants. It blooms for approximately a month, from July through August. 

The Slender Mountain Mint is hardy throughout southeastern Tennessee, is tough and does well in dry, open, rocky areas, especially in woods. In addition, it will do well in roadsides, along streams and wet thickets. Because it also requires little maintenance, it is a superb addition to local gardens.

This species does best in full sun in nearly any soil type, including clays. It is a fast grower and best pruned in the winter – January through March.

Habitat Value:  As with all mints, the Slender Mountain Mint is a magnet for all pollinators, including honey bees (and most other bee species), butterflies and other insects. Its small seeds are favored by many songbirds, too.

This species is an easy-to-grow perennial for herb gardens, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, borders, naturalized areas or meadows. The leaves of the Slender Mountain Mint are often finely chopped and placed in a salad to add a minty flavor. Its leaves can also be steeped to provide a refreshing tea drink.

Since it is a mint (square stem), this plant has a distinct fragrance, which is repugnant to deer, but uniquely different from the non-native mints, like spearmint and peppermint.

Because of its nature to reproduce vegetatively underground, the Slender Mountain Mint can be aggressive in a garden area. It can be root-trimmed in the winter months.

Landscape Value:  By Matt Whitaker of WMWA Landscape Architects

Slender (or Virginia) Mountain Mint is a garden workhorse, producing prolific blooms for pollinators and you to enjoy. It is one of the toughest, lowest maintenance plants you can grow in your garden. There are several species in the Pycnanthemum Genus native to our region, but virginiamum is perhaps the most pleasant smelling and makes one of my favorite teas from Fairweather Farm in Virginia. It is hard to pass this plant without grabbing a leaf and putting it to your nose. As Charlie notes, this plant is loved by pollinators and attracts perhaps the most diverse mix of bees and insects I have seen. I’m always fascinated by the tiny bees that I have never seen anywhere that can be seen when this is in bloom. 

Unlike all the non-native mints, you can and should plant this in the ground. (The non-native should be limited to pots to keep them from escaping to natural areas.) Since Slender Mountain Mint can be aggressive, it is ideal for poor soils, part shade, or non-irrigated gardens. These disadvantages (that many of us face in our gardens) help keep this plant in check.