American Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum) is a native perennial herb that fills gardens with aromatic foliage and delicate flowers from July through September. This clump-forming native spreads across hardiness zones 4 through 8, growing 1 to 3 feet tall and equally wide, thriving in average to dry soils with minimal fuss. The plant produces small, two-lipped white flowers sometimes tinged with lavender, attracting butterflies and other pollinators while releasing a strong mint aroma when the foliage is brushed. Its drought tolerance and ability to naturalize make it a generous addition to native plant gardens, prairies, and meadow landscapes.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-8
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Native from Ontario to Oklahoma, American Mountain Mint lives up to its aromatic reputation with foliage that releases a powerful mint scent whenever it's touched. The profuse white flowers, occasionally flushed with lavender, bloom reliably from midsummer through fall and draw butterflies consistently. Unlike some mountain mint species, this one thrives in dry upland conditions and open woodlands rather than requiring wet soils, and it handles drought stress with ease once established.
American Mountain Mint is grown primarily for naturalizing in native plant gardens, prairie restorations, and meadow landscapes. The aromatic foliage appeals to herbalists and gardeners interested in native plants, though its primary garden role is ecological: supporting pollinator populations and stabilizing dry, erosion-prone soils. The plant's ability to spread by rhizomes makes it valuable for establishing ground cover in areas where conventional options fail.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
To manage spread in spring, use a spade to prune back rhizomes if you want to contain the clump. If naturalizing is your goal, allow the plant to spread freely. Otherwise, routine pruning is not necessary for this low-maintenance perennial.
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“American Mountain Mint is indigenous to a broad swath of North America, ranging from Ontario and Michigan west to Iowa, then south through Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. In Missouri specifically, it was historically found throughout most of the state except the lowland southeastern counties, inhabiting prairies, open dry and upland woodlands, thickets, and along railroads where it grew as a volunteer in disturbed ground. This native perennial has been part of the North American landscape for centuries, adapted to survive in marginal soils where other plants struggle.”