Hoary Mountain Mint
By Lise Fracalossi
Pycnanthemum incanum
Native to: MA, CT, RI, VT, NH
Life cycle: Perennial
Light: Full/Partial Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry
Height: 3-4’
Spacing: 2-3'
Blooms: July-September
Bloom Color: white, purple
Natural Habitat: Cliffs, balds, or ledges, forest edges, ridges or ledges, woodlands
Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Salt Tolerant, Urban Environment, Drought Tolerant, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Edible, Erosion Control/Soil Stabilization, Fragrant, Low Maintenance
“Like other Mountain Mints, Hoary Mountain Mint is a pollinator favorite; bees, butterflies and moths will be in abundance on your plants. Unlike other Mountain Mints, this one has larger, deeper purple flowers than the traditional small white flowers.”
– Prairie Moon Nursery
Hoary mountain-mint is native to eastern North America, including New England, where it is at the northeastern limit of its range, and absent from Maine, northern New Hampshire and northern Vermont. The common name refers to the whitish appearance of the upper leaves and bracts. The plant has a strong minty odor and has been used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant.
– Go Botany
