Exploring Mountain Mint: Guide to Popular Varieties

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Three different Mountain Mint varieties in bloom

Mountain Mint is quickly becoming a popular perennial for avid gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts. In today’s blog, let’s dive deeper into some of the most popular species you might want to consider for your perennial gardens. Each variety has unique characteristics, but they all share the incredible pollinator-attracting and low-maintenance qualities that make Mountain Mint a gardener’s favorite.

Choosing the Right Mountain Mint for Your Garden

When selecting a Mountain Mint species, consider your garden’s conditions and your design goals:

  • For a showstopping pollinator attractor, go with Clustered Mountain Mint.
  • If you have a dry, sunny spot that needs filling, Narrow-leafed Mountain Mint is an excellent choice.
  • For interesting texture and adaptability to various light and soil conditions, try Hairy Mountain Mint.

Remember, all Mountain Mint species are excellent for supporting local ecosystems and bringing beneficial insects to your garden. Whichever variety you choose, you’re sure to enjoy the beauty and benefits of this remarkable native plant.

Clustered Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Clustered Mountain Mint is stealing the spotlight in 2025 as the Perennial Plant Association’s 2025 Plant of the Year!

 

Key Features

  • Height: 24-36 inches
  • Bloom Time: July to September
  • Flower Color: White to light pink
  • Interest: Distinctive, silvery bracts give the appearance of frost on the foliage

Growing Tips

  • They prefer full sun to partial shade.
  • They tolerate a wide range of soil conditions.
  • It spreads through rhizomes but is less aggressive than true mints.
  • Excellent for pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, and as a ground cover.

Fun Fact

  • The leaves contain pulegone, a natural insect repellent. Rub the leaves on your clothes to help repel ticks and mosquitoes during outdoor activities—a word of caution: the presence of pulegone limits the culinary uses of Clustered Mountain Mint.
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Narrow-leafed Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

If you’re looking for a Mountain Mint variety with a more delicate appearance, Narrow-leafed Mountain Mint might be your perfect match!

 

Key Features

  • Height: 20-30 inches
  • Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
  • Flower Color: White
  • Interest: Fine, needle-like leaves create a soft, airy texture

Growing Tips

  • They thrive in full sun to partial shade.
  • They are adaptable to various soil types, including rocky or sandy soils.
  • They have a more restrained growth habit than other Mountain Mint varieties.
  • Excellent for dry areas or rock gardens.

Fun Fact

  • Despite its delicate appearance, the Narrow-leafed Mountain Mint is just as attractive to pollinators as its cousins. If you’re looking to explore the culinary uses of Mountain Mint, the Narrow-leafed variety is the best to use.
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Hairy Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum

Hairy Mountain Mint offers an exciting twist for those who appreciate unique textures in their garden.

 

Key Features

  • Height: 2-3 feet
  • Bloom Time: July to September
  • Flower Color: White
  • Interest: Distinctive, fuzzy white stems and leaves

Growing Tips

  • They prefer full sun to partial shade.
  • They are adaptable to various soil types, including clay.
  • Tolerates both moist and slightly dry conditions.
  • They are great for naturalized areas or wildflower meadows.

Fun Fact

  • The fuzzy texture of this plant isn’t just for show—it helps protect the plant from excessive water loss, making it quite drought-tolerant once established.
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