Pycnanthemum muticum

Description

Pycnanthemum muticum, or Showy Mountain Mint, is a 3 foot, clump-forming perennial with white to violet blooms and silvery, blue-green leaves appearing in mid to late summer. Showy Mountain Mint prefers moist soils in part to full sun. The plants tolerate clay, heat, and drought. Showy Mountain Mint has aromatic foliage and is spread by underground rhizomes. 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!

Pycnanthemum muticum goes by many names: Showy Mountain Mint, Clustered Mountain Mint, Blunt Mountain Mint or Short-toothed Mountain Mint.