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Mertensia virginica en masse.
Mertensia virginica en masse. Photo © Mary Free
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Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed/Clustered Mountain-mint)

Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed Mountain-mint) with emerging leaves in April
Canescent bracts of native Pycnanthemum muticum
Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed Mountain-mint) with pollinator Syritta pipiens (thick-legged hoverfly) in June.
Flowers (verticillasters) of native Pycnanthemum muticum (short-toothed mountain mint)
Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed Mountain-mint) with pollinators (Apis mellifera (European honey bee) and Vanessa cardui (painted lady) butterfly in July.
Pycnanthemum muticum in the garden with Hydrangea macrophylla and Lychnis coronaria (rose campion). Photo © Anne Galer
Each schizocarp separates into four nutlets on Pycnanthemum muticum (short-toothed mountain mint)
Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed Mountain-mint) over-wintered seed heads in March

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The flowers of this native* may be unassuming, but their nectar enticed the greatest number and diversity of pollinators out of 86 native species and nativars monitored by Penn State Extension and Master Gardeners over a 3-year period.** Showy, silvery bracts accent the flower clusters and the foliage exudes a strong minty aroma when crushed. for the Mid-Atlantic Tried and True Native Plant Selections Perennial Flowers En Masse, w/ Pollinators,*** Seed Heads Height: 1–3 feet Spread: 1–3 feet Bloom Color: White to pinkish Characteristics Herbaceous perennial forming upright clumps Oval, toothed, medium green leaves, with round to heart-shape base & pointed end on stiff, square stems Terminal or axillary clusters of 1⁄2-inch, tubular, lavender-spotted, white flowers accented by two fuzzy, silvery-green bracts bloom July to September Spreads rapidly by rhizomes in optimum conditions Attributes Tolerates some drought; no serious pests or diseases (rust possible); deer rarely damage Ethnobotanic uses; used in moth-deterrent sachets Contains insect repellant pulegone–rub leaves on clothes/put some stems in pockets to repel ticks... Attracts myriad pollinators (bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, and beetles) including predators/ parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Well-drained Aegopodium podagraria - Bishop’s Weed Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Allium tuberosum - Garlic Chives Water Requirements: Moist Mentha spp. - Mint Thrives and spreads quickly in moist, clay soil in full sun; to keep it in check, in spring prune roots with a spade or plant in drier or shadier locations *It is native in DC, uncommon in DE, and scattered in southeastern counties of PA. It is infrequent throughout VA, but is native to Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in NoVA. **According to “Bees, Bugs & Blooms – A pollinator trial.” Posted: February 5, 2016. Penn State. Center for Pollinator Research. ***Pollinators: honey bee (Apis mellifera, top right), leafcutter bee (Megachile, middle left top), maybe brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis, middle left bottom) and thread- waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata, middle right). Use en masse or naturalized in cottage, herb, meadow, native plant, or pollinator gardens Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–8 developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Mary Free, Arlington, VA and by Elaine Mills, Gulf Branch Pollinator (top right) & Glencarlyn Library Community (bottom) Gardens

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic

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Pycnanthemum muticum (Short-toothed/Clustered Mountain-mint) 

The flowers of this native* may be unassuming, but their nectar enticed the greatest number and diversity of pollinators out of 86 native species and nativars monitored by Penn State Extension and Master Gardeners over a 3-year period.** Showy, silvery bracts accent the flower clusters and the foliage exudes a strong minty aroma when crushed.

*It is native in DC, uncommon in DE, and scattered in southeastern counties of PA. It is infrequent throughout VA, but is native to Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in NoVA.

**According to “Bees, Bugs & Blooms – A pollinator trial.” Posted: February 5, 2016. Penn State. Center for Pollinator Research.

Video © Mary Free
This video features twenty-five different pollinator species that appeared on the same 2-foot by 2.5-foot patch of P. muticum.  Twenty-one of them were observed over about twelve days in June and July of 2019 along with the tiny generalist predator Orius insidiosus (insidious flower bug–included, but not labeled in the video), two additional syrphid fly species, an unidentified bee species, tachnid and long-legged flies, a seed bug, a leafhopper, pollen mites, and male and female emerald jumper spiders. If you plant mountain-mint in your garden, then just imagine how many insects that it will attract over the course of its 15-week bloom period! Learn more about Pollinators. NOTE: The butterfly identified as Vanessa virginiensis is actually Vanessa cardui (painted lady) with four eyespots on the ventral hindwing instead of two.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets

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