Mountain Mint is a native plant that, in midsummer, is covered in small white flowers, often spotted with purple, held atop strongly upright stems. The genus name,Pycnanthemum, means "densely packed flowers,". In bloom it is covered with a dense white bloom that is highly attractive to pollinators. Typical visitors include honeybees, and a wide variety of native bees, beetles and butterflies. The common name, Mountain Mint, is misleading since the plant usually is found in moist soils in wet meadows, making it an excellent plant for rain gardens, shoreline plantings or any moist area. Low-growing and deer proof, Mountain Mint is unpalatable to a variety of herbivores and insects - probably due to the minty flavor. The leaves emit a strong aroma when crushed and can be used in teas.
Mountain Mint is adaptable to a wide range of conditions but does best in average, well drained soil in full sun.