Slender Mountain Mint

Biological Name:

Pycnanthemum spp. (Slender-Mountain-Mint)

Natural Habitat:

Slender-Mountain-Mint: Wet meadows and fields, North America

Description:

Slender-Mountain-Mint also known as Pycnanthemum is a plant that is native to grassland and prairie regions of North America. It is a perennial herb that can grow up to three feet tall and it has small oval-shaped leaves and small white or pink flowers that bloom in the summer. The plant is known for its minty aroma and it is often used as a natural insect repellent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does slender mountain mint spread?
A: It grows best in full sun to part shade and dry to moist soil. Slender mountain mint doesn’t spread as rapidly as spearmint or peppermint. However, it is still a mint and can spread significantly if it likes the area where it is planted.
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Q: Should I cut back mountain mint?
A: Short Toothed Mountain Mint is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter.
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Q: Where should I plant mountain mint?
A: Plants grow best in fertile, moist-to-medium moisture soils that are well-drained. Blunt mountain mint flowers best when planted in full-sun, but can grow in bright shade. While serving as a tremendous draw for pollinators of all type during its July-September bloom period, P.
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Q: Can I plant mountain mint in shade?
A: It is best to have a lower growing plant or a mounding plant placed at the front of Mountain Mint to provide a more gentle transition to turf, a walkway or simply the ground plain. Plants grow well in full sun as well as light shade, providing that the soil does not become excessively dry for prolonged periods.
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Q: Are mint roots invasive?
A: Mint Plant Care Like cilantro and basil, mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow; however, its roots, which are called “runners,” are incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go. Mint will overtake a flower bed or garden in no time if you’re not careful.
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Q: Does mountain mint attract bees?
A: Asters and mountain mint are excellent bee plants as they are among the latest blooming garden flowers.
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Q: Will mint crowd out other plants?
A: If you want to add it to an existing herb bed then the best way is to sink a deep bucket or tub without holes into the soil and plant into that as otherwise mint will quickly choke out the other plants. Apart from that, mint is not a fussy plant and will even grow under trees or in shade.
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Q: Is slender mountain mint edible?
A: Flowers and leaves are edible and make a wonderful substitution for mint. Save seed once the seedheads have dried on the plant. They easily fall out — wrap seedheads with paper bags.
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Q: What are the benefits of mountain mint?
A: Mountain mint tea is known to be curative, diaphoretic, and carminative [1,2]. The tea made of mountain mint leaves is used for treating menstrual disorders, mild headaches, fevers, colds, coughs, and indigestion [1,2,3].
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Q: Does mountain mint attract butterflies?
A: Usually blooming from late June through August, Mountain Mints attract a spectacular assortment of butterflies, bees, moths, and other critters.
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Q: Does mountain mint repel mosquitoes?
A: It has also been suggested that the crushed leaves of narrow-leaf mountain-mint can be rubbed on your skin as a natural mosquito repellent. The aromatic leaves make this species resistant to deer and rabbit herbivory.
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Q: What does mountain mint attract?
A: Mountain mints are attractive to many species of insect pollinators, from bees to wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers and beetles. Many of the insects are small in size but are important.
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Q: Where does mountain mint grow best?
A: Mountain mints grow well in sunny to partly sunny sites with well-drained soils. Although they grow best in soils that are somewhat moist, they are very drought-tolerant plants once established.
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Q: How invasive is mountain mint?
A: Virginia mountain mint tends to grow 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads up to 2 feet. While considered a spreading species, it certainly does not tend to spread too far or become aggressive.
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Q: Does mountain mint need to be cut back?
A: Short Toothed Mountain Mint is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter.
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Q: Is mountain mint toxic to dogs?
A: Toxicity. Mint species, including wild mint, spearmint and peppermint, are nontoxic to dogs, according to the Continental Kennel Club. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns that the only species of mint, in the genus Mentha, that is toxic to dogs is English pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).
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Q: What does mountain mint repel?
A: Tightly clad to the square stems by only a short petiole, the foliage contains pulegone, an oil with an aroma reminiscent of spearmint that is very effective at repelling mosquitoes when rubbed on the skin. This aroma is also effective at eliminating deer browse!
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Q: Does mountain mint repel insects?
A: Pollinators flock to the blooms, as it is an excellent nectar source for native bees, butterflies, moths and flower flies. Mountain Mint is full of pulegone, the same oily liquid used as an insect repellent. It can be rubbed on the skin to repel mosquitoes!
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Q: Does mountain mint come back every year?
A: Mountain mint, a group of about 20 plants in the Pycnanthemum genus, is native to the southeastern U.S. They are perennials and bloom from about July through September.
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Q: Should you cut back mountain mint?
A: Short Toothed Mountain Mint is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter.
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Q: Should I deadhead mountain mint?
A: The garden for pollinators borders the meadow and is bursting with flowers, especially the mountain mints (Pycnanthemum muticum and Pycnanthemum virginianum). This garden is watered only when it rains and is never deadheaded to encourage seed heads for the birds.
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Q: Should I cut back my mint for winter?
A: Trimming mint plants to the ground before winter is an essential part of preventing insect pests and diseases, such as anthracnose, that would otherwise overwinter in the plants.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.