Mountain mint is a pleaser
If you are seeking a perennial that attracts pollinators to your garden, short-toothed mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is the “must have” plant for you!
In the 2013 Penn State pollinator trials at the Southeast Research and Extension Center, mountain mint was rated first in longevity of flowers and diversity of pollinators. This plant also attracted the greatest number of insects of any plant in the trials. During a two-minute period, 78 insects visited short-toothed mountain mint, including 19 species of bees and syrphid flies.
Short-toothed, or clustered mountain mint (P. muticum), is native from Maine to Michigan and south to Florida and Texas; mountain mint is found in Butler County. Mountain mint generally grows in open habitats such as meadows and fields. Short-toothed mountain mint was originally discovered and described by the French botanist Andre Michaux in 1790 from specimens collected in Pennsylvania. Classified as a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) it is not a member of the true mints (Mentha), a species that often causes gardeners to envision plants gone wild throughout their landscape. Consider short-toothed mountain mint a better behaved, more disciplined cousin.
As a native perennial, short-toothed mountain mint is easy to maintain. This perennial grows in a clump to a height of 1 to 3 feet in full sun or part shade; however, flowering is more vigorous when the plant is grown in full sun. Short-toothed mountain mint is adaptable to a variety of soil types and pH ranges. It prefers moist soils but will tolerate some dryness if the soil is not dry for extended time periods.
At the other end of the spectrum, mountain mint will tolerate wet conditions provided the soil does not remain saturated for long intervals. Short-toothed mountain mint does spread via rhizomes and can extend its growth 4 to 6 inches per year; however, the shallow rhizomes can be easily cut with a garden spade and extracted if it begins to misbehave or you want to relocate new growth to a different location.
The foliage of short-toothed mountain mint is dark green and very aromatic when handled. An oil in the leaves produces a spearmint-like scent and is said to be effective at repelling deer. The leaves can be used to ward off mosquitoes when rubbed on the skin. The same aromatic oil also reduces insect damage.
Two silvery green modified leaves or bracts surround each cluster of small white to light pink tubular flowers. Similar to other mints, short-toothed mountain mint flowers bloom in stages beginning in late June and continuing into September. The bracts act as a visual guide attracting bees, beneficial wasps, butterflies and moths seeking the flowers and nectar.
The silvery bracts also give the short-toothed mountain mint an attractive visual presence in a garden. In winter, the dry flower heads are attractive when left in place as part of the winter landscape.
In the landscape, use mountain mint to fill in open areas on slopes or in areas where perennials do not flourish. This perennial is tough and can withstand wet and dry soil conditions in full and part sun. Easy to grow and attractive to diverse pollinators, mountain mint is an excellent selection for all gardens!
Penn State Extension offers additional information on the best plants to attract pollinators to your garden at https://extension.psu.edu/best-plants-for-pollinators.
If you have questions about mountain mint or perennials that attract pollinators, call the Butler County Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287 4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Mary Alice Koeneke is a Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County.
