Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum

Crushing mountain mint between your fingertips for the first time is a revelation! Hand collecting native seed all day can lead one to feeling a little beat up. I will regularly seek this plant out and its sent will brighten me right up! Mountain mint is a long blooming mid to late summer plant with white to slightly lavender colored flowers. Compared to culinary mint, it is not nearly as aggressive, though it will spread by seed if competition is lacking. It’s an important pollen source for many small bees, flies, wasps, beetles, and butterflies, including the federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee. Mountain mint is also edible. Its leaves can be dried to make a delicious mint tea!

Life Cycle: Perennial
Size: 3 feet
Sun: Full, Partial
Soil: Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Bloom Time: June, July, August, September
Advantages: