If you want to see pollinators in action, plant Mountain Mint. These tall perennials burst into white and green blooms for over a month in summer, and when they’re flowering, they’re absolutely covered in bees, butterflies, and even the occasional hummingbird. Brush against the leaves, and you’ll catch a whiff of minty freshness. Easy to grow, deer-resistant, and versatile in sun or part sun, Mountain Mint is one of the most rewarding natives you can add to your garden.
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Medium (3-5')
- Summer flowers, Fall flowers
- Pollinator lifeline
Is Mountain Mint a good choice for my yard?
Yes, if…
- You want to see pollinators swarming your garden.
- You’d like a tall perennial that thrives in sun to part sun.
- You want a fragrant, deer-resistant plant.
- You’re looking for a low-maintenance pollinator lifeline that comes back every year.
Why Mountain Mint matters
- Pollinator powerhouse: Mountain Mint is one of the top native plants for bees and butterflies.
- Long bloom time: Flowers for a month or more in mid to late summer.
- Deer-proof: Strongly scented leaves keep deer away.
- Easy care: Thrives with little fuss, just rainfall once established.
New to native?
Before lawns and landscaping, native plants were here. They’ve fed birds, bees, and butterflies for thousands of years—and they’ll do the same in your yard. The best part? They’re easier to grow than you think.
Types of native Mountain Mint
There are about 8–10 Mountain Mint species native to North America. All share the minty fragrance and pollinator appeal, but here are a few common ones you might find:
Silverleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum incanum
- Silvery tear-shaped leaves
- Perhaps the least ‘showy’ in terms of flowers, but it will be covered in pollinators
- 2-6 feet tall
- Native to the eastern US and Ontario
Narrow-leaved Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
- Needle-like leaves and white flowers
- 2-3 feet tall
- Native to the eastern United States and Canada
Virginia Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum
- Needle-like leaves and white flowers that are sometimes tinged with pink or purple
- 2-3 feet tall
- Native to the eastern United States and Canada
Some other species include:
- Clustered Mountain Mint. (P. municum) Pink flowers. Native to 60% of the United States, from Maine to Florida.
- Whorled Mountain Mint (P. verticillatum), native from Maine to Arkansas.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll have a pollinator magnet. Look for Pycnanthemum on the tag to be sure you’ve got a Mountain Mint.
How to grow Mountain Mint
Plant Mountain Mint in full sun to part sun with average soil. It tolerates drought once established but prefers consistent moisture. Most species grow between 3–5′, so place them toward the back or middle of a garden bed. Cut stems back in fall or leave them standing for winter interest and wildlife cover. Either way, it will return reliably each spring.
Here’s a quick growing overview from NC State Extension:
Where Mountain Mint shines in your yard
Mountain Mint looks best when planted in clusters, where its silvery foliage and white flowers can create a soft backdrop for brighter natives like coneflowers or blazing stars. Use it in pollinator gardens, meadow plantings, or mixed borders — anywhere you want movement, height, and a constant buzz of pollinators.
FAQs
Is Mountain Mint aggressive?
Mountain Mint can grow quickly and take over a garden—this is called being ‘aggressive’—if it’s given its preferred rich soil AND it’s allowed to spread unchecked. Here are two ways to keep Mountain Mint in check:
- Pull up the edges of its rhizome roots so they don’t spread. (In my front yard garden, pulling up rhizome roots that spread too far in the spring can take 15 minutes.)
- Grab a shovel and dig up a clump in the spring. Plant this clump elsewhere, or give it away! (I’ve had success halving it every year after its third growing year.)
Aggressive plants are not always “bad.” If you have a large area to cover, picking plants that spread quickly helps fill out an area much faster than slower-growing plants. At the same time, if you have a smaller garden, aggressive plants like Mountain Mint will need spring-time vigilance, especially after their third year.
Where can I find Mountain Mint?
First, the bad news: sourcing a specific native plant can sometimes be a challenge. To make your Mountain Mint sourcing easier, here are four ideas that are tried-and-true for finding native plants:
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Native Nursery List
300+ native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Online Native Plant Sellers
We've included 100+ online resources to help
Society Plant Sales
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Online Communities
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
Native plants to pair with Mountain Mint
These native plants all thrive in the same full sun to part sun as Mountain Mint. Plant them together and enjoy flowers and pollinators throughout the growing season.
Mountain Mint is one of the easiest, most rewarding natives you can grow. With its minty scent, long bloom time, and nonstop pollinator action, it proves that gardening with natives can be both effortless and spectacular. Plant a patch, and you’ll never garden without it again. Save yourself time, money, and water and fill your phone with butterfly pictures: plant some Mountain Mint. Looking for other good-smelling natives? Visit our Beginner’s Guide to Bee Balm or our Beginner’s Guide to Culver’s Root. Happy planting!
Sources
- Johnson, Lorraine and Colla, Sheila. A Northerner’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators. (2023), 128-129.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Hoary Mountain Mint
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Virginia Mountain Mint
