Pycnanthemumspp.
mount peck is a beautiful , fragrant herb that attracts bee and butterflies like a magnet .
If you ’re interested in providing pollinators with food and home ground , add one or more of these plants to your grounds or garden !
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Bumblebees onP. muticum. Photo by RockerBoo, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
This perennial herb holds a special place in my heart , and I hope that when you grow your own , it will have one in yours as well .
In this article you ’ll learn how to propagate silvery - hued mountain spate , what eccentric of twinkle , water , and soil conditions it postulate , as well as ideas about how to use it in the landscape .
Here ’s a sneak peek at what we ’ll cover :
Bumblebees onP. muticum. Photo by RockerBoo, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
What You’ll Learn
Before we get start up , have me recount you – plenty sight is the plant that ferment me into anative plantconvert .
Many age ago , I purchase a small pot of clustered mountain tidy sum ( Pycnanthemum muticum)from a local aboriginal plant life sales agreement in North Carolina , expect fun opportunities to witness bumblebees or maybe some honey bee visit my garden .
I did not foresee what actually encounter .
When my clump ofP. muticumbloomed , there was an all out pollinator party in my backyard . It was as if a message went out calling allbeneficial insectsfar and wide to take care . I could n’t even count the number of different species I was seeing !
I witnessed this spectacle with awe and experienced first hand the power of growing native plants .
You may be mean that my pollinator parade was just anecdotal , but actually , my experience was not unique .
Researchers such as Kaitlin Swiantek at the University of Florida have acquit subject on thePycnanthemumgenus , and found that these plants attract a immense diversity of beneficial louse .
In one of the studies , it was square up that mass mints are even more popular thanmilkweedsandgoldenrods , which are be intimate to be wildly attractive to pollinators .
Sure , non - US native plants likezinniasandcosmoswill attract bee and even hummingbirds . But natives likePycnanthemumspecies take wildlife tutelage to another point .
We ’ll be focusing primarily onP. muticumin this article , but we will cover a few other coinage from this genus as well , so keep take to check more !
What Is Mountain Mint?
P. muticum , also known as clustered mint mint , is an evergreen plant perennial that has a thumping forming growth substance abuse , with plants reaching one to three metrical foot tall and encompassing .
Oval- or spear - shape leave are dark green , have toothed margins , and grow opposite on branching , square stems . This leafage has a delightful , minty scent .
Inflorescences appear at the end of stems in summertime , and the flower heads have large , grey lily-white bracts that give the whole plant a silvery appearance .
The actual flowers are small , have two sassing , and are white , pinkish , lavender , or naughty in color .
Cultivation and History
Native to the US and Canada , thePycnanthemumgenus contains 19 species , 13 of which are line up in pot minthot spotNorth Carolina .
Habitats for these coinage are various , including moist and dry woodlands , flaxen soil , rocky slope , streambanks , meadows and clearings , prairies , thickets , and moist bluffs .
ThePycnanthemumgenus is categorized taxonomically in themint family , Lamiaceae .
member of this genus are link up to a divers regalia of garden staples includingpeppermint , sweet basil , coleus , as well as houseplant favorites such asSwedish English ivy .
Within the true mint subtribe , Pycnanthemumis closely related tobee balm , another pollinator favorite .
One of the most widespread members of this genus , P. muticumis aboriginal to the easterly central and eastern US .
In its native range , mountain sight is found in playing area , meadows , and assailable woodlands , and can be grown inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 to 8 .
As already noted , this genus is an first-class choice for wildlife guardianship . In fact the University of Georgia State Botanical Garden named mountain mint one of the Pollinator Plants of the Year for 2022 .
And of class , as you might expect from an aromatic plant , you may utilise the leaves of this perennial as a refreshing herbal tea leaf !
Mountain Mint Propagation
quick to embark on growing this fragrant perennial ? great deal peck can be propagated via seeds , cutting , division , or transplanting .
From Seed
you’re able to produce heap mint from cum , but for improved germination charge per unit , seeds need a dusty , damp stratification geological period .
To reach this , sprinkle the seeds on a damp paper towel . Fold the paper towel in one-half , then half again , and place it in a plastic bag . Store the plastic bag in the fridge for one to two month .
After the stratification period , pull together your supplies : you ’ll need four - inch nursery potty , growing medium , and a atomiser bottle for watering .
Glass Spray Bottle With Adjustable Nozzle
Do you need a spray bottle for projects like these ? you may find a glass spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle availablevia Amazon .
Fill the nursery pots with moist grow medium , such as Rosy Soil ’s Seedling cum begin grime mix , uncommitted for purchasevia Amazon .
Rosy Soil Seedling Seed Starting Soil Mix
When satisfy the baby’s room plenty , leave a gap of about an in between the airfoil of the soil and the flange of the pot .
Take several cum and press them onto the aerofoil of the soil , but do n’t cover them – they need light for germination .
Moisten the growing medium with a nebuliser feeding bottle , and place the dope in a position with bright collateral light , and keep them in a temperature range of 65 to 75˚F , using bottom high temperature if needed .
you may keep seedlings strong by placing them on a heat mat , such as the Jump Start Heat Mat from the Hydrofarm Store , uncommitted for purchase in an assortment of sizesvia Amazon .
Keep the territory moist but not soggy as cum germinate and seedlings become institute .
If started indoors , harden seedling off when they have several lawful leaf before planting out .
To do this , move them outdoors to a protected , shady location for an hour or so , gradually increase the amount of prison term and unmediated exposure to sun and nothingness over the grade of about a workweek .
Once these new mountain mint flora are harden off , they will be ready for transplanting .
While seeds can also be seed directly alfresco in fall , your chances of success will be much higher when starting them in pots , since the seeds are so flyspeck .
spare yourself some letdown and apply slew rather of direct seeding .
From Cuttings
The expert sentence to spread mountain mint from slip is in early summer . For this project , you ’ll require growing medium , rooting hormone , and four - inch nursery potentiometer .
It ’s ok to reprocess sometime baby’s room pots but be sure to strip and sterilize them first .
Prepare the flowerpot first by filling them with moist farm sensitive , leaving a break of about an inch between the surface of the dirt and the rim of the locoweed .
Using sterilizedgarden pruner , take four column inch clipping , make your stinger just below a exercise set of leaves . prune off the bottom set of leaves from each cut .
Dip the end of the cutting in rootle hormone such as Olivia ’s Cloning Gel , available for purchase in an raiment of jounce sizesfrom Arbico Organics .
Olivia ’s Cloning Gel
Poke a hole in the center of the develop sensitive , then infix the cutting , firming the pot metier around the base . pose these in mottled shade and keep the grow average moist .
The cutting should form root in a few weeks – you’re able to check by pull on the stem to see if it resists pulling out of the raise mass medium .
Once the passel heap cutting is rooted , bit by bit acclimate it to direct sun by increasing sun exposure over a period of about a week .
After this acclimatization full point , your cut will be quick to transplant .
By Division
mount mint grows from rhizomes , which can be divided when plants are dormant , either in tardy fall or former spring .
Before you go split this herb , a day or two ahead of time , water both the deal mint mend and the transplantation placement .
The day you ’re quick to divide , first dig a hole that is about double as inscrutable and wide as the root ball of the division you ’re planning to separate off from the independent clump .
Take a shovel full of the soil you just dug out and conflate it with an equal part ofcompost , then put this variety back into the kettle of fish .
Now it ’s time to divide the existing chunk of mountain plenty . Take a shovel and slice through the plant life ’s roots – you’re able to take half of it or less for the new thumping .
Work the shovel under the plant ’s rhizomes and lift the bunch out of the ground .
Carry the lifted clunk to the new location , or if needed , place it into an empty pot to delight it .
Place the bunch into the cakehole on top of the mix of territory and compost – adjust the amount of soil underneath the clustering so that the top of the plant ’s rootage ballock is stratum with the ground .
water system in and brood the dirt around the stack lot plant withan inch or two of mulch .
Want more details?Find step by step instructions for dividing perennials in our scout !
Transplanting
Once you have an established mountain mint seedling or have purchase a industrial plant in a glasshouse flock you ’ll need to transfer it either to a big container or into the land .
If you ’d like to strain the container method , be sure toread our clause about growing herbs in container .
To transplant a specimen into the ground , first choose a mean solar day with laid-back weather , if potential , or waitress until the late good afternoon when the day has cooled off . turbid day are ideal for transplantation .
Dig a hole twice as deep and wide as the specimen ’s nursery pot – plan to set aside one to three foot of space for each plant .
Put a spadeful full of the grunge you polish off from the fix back into the hole and unify it with an equal amount of compost .
Remove the specimen from the nursery pot , loosen its root word , and mix any farm culture medium that come off the root word into the hole with the soil and compost .
Place the root nut into the cakehole , align the amount of sluttish dirt mixture beneath it to keep the top of the stem nut level with the priming coat .
When it ’s level , backfill with soil , then pee in . If the soil level sink in after watering , add more dirt , then dab the filth gently to level it out .
Water in again , and comprehend the area around the plant with an in or so of mulch .
If the conditions is hot or juiceless , be certain to water every couple of sidereal day or more frequently to keep the stain moist as the plant gets plant .
How to Grow Mountain Mint
Mountain mint thrive in full sun or part shade , but flowering will be best in full sun .
This silvery herb requires well - drain stain that is racy in organic issue , with a pH between 6.1 and 7.3 .
Although it has some drouth tolerance , P. muticumgrows best in moderate to moist conditions , so body of water plant during hot weather and drought as they get established .
Growing Tips
Maintenance
Mountain mint is a low maintenance plant . alimony tasks include pruning , as well as dividing when desire or when a plant is grow beyond its allotted distance in your landscape .
Pruning this perennial is well-off . Since this is a star plant for pollinators , ideally you ’ll trim to create bee nesting spot .
To do this , leave all the dried shuck in place over the wintertime . In saltation , cut just a few of these back half agency and prune the rest period of the stalks down to the dirt .
The stalking leave standing will cater nesting spots for bees in springtime .
pick up more about creating habitat for bees , as well as other actions you’re able to take to help oneself them in our article !
As for dividing , this labor is only required if you desire to forestall the plant life from spreading , which it does lento , and not like it ’s bent on taking over the world likeits relatives in theMenthagenus !
When flock mint is dormant , you could divide mature plants to keep them at the desire size of it , as described in the propagation section above .
Mountain Mint Species to Select
The independent matter of our clause isP. muticum , also known as flock , blunt , or short jaggy mountain slew .
Reaching one to three foundation tall and wide , this one is know for its silvern bracts and shallow teeth on the margins of the leaves .
Choose this species if you are in the easterly or easterly key US , Zones 4 to 8 , and can offer moist growing conditions in full Lord’s Day to part shade .
P. Muticum dwell Starter Plant
PurchaseP. muticumas a live starter industrial plant in a three - inch potfrom Sacred Roots Nursery via Walmart .
In addition toP. muticum , there are 18 other species ofPycnanthemum .
Here are a few of interest :
Hairy Mountain Mint
P. verticillatumvar.pilosum , also sleep with asP. pilosum , hirsute , American , or whorled mountain batch , is aboriginal to the easterly and cardinal regions of the US .
hit one to three feet grandiloquent , this species has minute light-green leaf and clusters of small bloom at stem terminal and at leafage axil .
It turn in full sun or part shade in ironical to average dirt that have dear drain , in zone 4 to 8 .
Hairy Mountain Mint seed
you’re able to findP. verticillatumvar . pilosumseeds in a survival of parcel sizesfrom Everwilde via Amazon .
Hoary Mountain Mint
P. incanum , also known as hoary mountain mint , is aboriginal to the easterly US where it grows in ironical to medium moisture condition , in full sun or part spook .
This perennial make two to three feet magniloquent and has a three to four foot spread head .
P. incanumhas silvern white bract and upper leaves , giving the whole plant a brilliant , silvery clean appearing . Flower clusters are ashen or white and lavender , and seem at terminal and upper folio axil .
This is a good choice for Zones 4 to 8 if you wish the looking ofP. muticumbut necessitate something for dryer condition .
you may purchase 0.16 - troy ounce battalion ofP. incanumseedsfrom Roundstone Native Seeds LLC via Amazon .
Slender Mountain Mint
P. tenuifolium , more commonly known as narrow leaf or slender mountain mint , reaches two to three feet tall and wide .
As its uncouth names suggest , it has thin , acerate leaf - similar leaves , with clusters of small blanched flower at the ends of the prow .
recommend for zone 4 to 8 , it grows in full sun to part shade , in dry to medium moist ground , and has a wide aboriginal stove , throughout eastern North America .
You ’ll findP. tenuifoliumseeds in packs of 0.16 - ouncesfrom Roundstone Native Seeds LLC via Amazon .
Virginia Mountain Mint
aboriginal to eastern North America , Virginia quite a little mint ( P. virginianium ) requires full Sunday and restrained moisture .
This species has narrow , taper leaves with smooth margin , and cluster of small white flowers at the remainder of the base .
It gain two to three feet improbable and one to one and a half feet all-inclusive , growing in Zones 3 to 7 .
You ’ll findP. virginianiumseeds in an assortment of pack sizesfrom Everwilde Farms via Amazon .
Managing Pests and Disease
Mountain batch is not much bothered by pest or disease , and it ’s even resistant todeer , gopher , voles , andrabbits .
The only disease which tends to affect this plant is rust , which is more of a job when the plant is in nerve-racking condition , such as during time of drought or right after transplantation .
Called “ rusting ” because of the appearance it has on plants , this is a fungous disease that produces powdery , red orangeness spores on foliation .
you could preclude this fungal proceeds by avoiding condition that will allow it to boom . Space plants properly and deflect watering late in the twenty-four hour period – water system in the morning alternatively .
If rust has appeared on yourPycnanthemumspecimen , and is not far-flung , you may remove the unnatural leafage .
However , if rust is present on most of the plant , cut the leafage back to the ground and allow the works to resprout .
Best Uses for Mountain Mint
It ’s not hard to discover a good enjoyment for slew mint in the landscape painting !
Aesthetically , it will meld in utterly withcottage gardens , herbaceous plant gardens , edible garden , and margin .
you may also have it naturalize in exposed woodlands or hayfield .
As for landscape painting design , P. muticumcreates an eye - catching , lustrous spot with its silvery white bract .
Choose a case native to your location to grow withnative wildflowers .
If you’regardening for wildlife , think that these industrial plant have special value to bees , include honeybees , bumblebees , and other types of aboriginal bee .
butterfly , and predatory and parasitoid insects also lovePycnanthemumspecies !
And while it ’s baronial to remember of our insect neighbor – do n’t forget to revel some for yourself as well – their leave of absence and flowers can be used to make invigoratingly mintyherbal teas .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Mounds of Silver Are Pollinator Gold
Now that you know just how to rise this fragrant plant life , you ’ll soon be ready to baby-sit back and enjoy those silvery flowers and watch a parade of pollinators pass by !
manage to delve into more hatful growing information ? We have more cognition for you right here :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . intersection picture via Everwilde Farms , the Hydrofarm Store , Rosy Soil , Roundstone Native Seeds LLC , and Sacred Roots Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
