Pycnanthemum muticum

Scientific Name: Pycnanthemum muticum

Common Name: Clustered Mountain Mint

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Blooming Time: July to September

Bloom Duration: 2 to 3 months

Fragrance: Strong, refreshing mint fragrance when foliage is brushed or crushed

Plant Growing Habit: Upright, spreading, clump-forming

Characteristics: A native North American perennial prized for its aromatic foliage and exceptional value as a pollinator plant. Produces clusters of small white to pale pink flowers surrounded by silvery-green bracts, creating a soft, frosted appearance. Extremely attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The fragrant foliage is deer and rabbit-resistant and adds texture and interest to native gardens, herb gardens, meadows, borders, and naturalized landscapes.

Spacing: 45 to 60 cm apart

Height: 60 to 90 cm

Width: 45 to 90 cm

Maintenance Requirements: Low maintenance. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil but tolerates partial shade and a range of soil conditions. Water regularly during establishment; once established, it is drought-tolerant. Can be trimmed back in early summer to encourage a shorter, bushier habit if desired. Cut back old stems in late fall or early spring before new growth begins. Requires little to no fertilization and may slowly spread by rhizomes, making it useful for naturalized plantings. Hardy and well suited to Canadian gardens in Zones 4–8.

Images Courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company of Ball Seed or www.ballseed.com