Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia Mountain Mint)
Virginia Mountain Mint, Koellia virginiana
Delicate in both flower and leaf, Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia Mountain Mint) is an erect, many-branched, aromatic perennial adorned with very narrow, toothless, gray-green leaves. The leaves exude a pleasant minty fragrance when crushed. Blooming for about one month in mid to late summer, an abundance of small, white flowers, dotted with lavender, appear in dense flattened clusters atop the stems. Each cluster has 4 or more flowers, some as many as 50. Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. The root system produces rhizomes, which spread outward with daunting vigor, forming small colonies. Vigorous and durable, Virginia Mountain Mint is a good choice for meadows, wildlife gardens, woodland edges where it can roam freely.
- Grows up to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).
- Thrives in full sun to part shade in moist to average, well-drained soils. This plant is not fussy about soils and performs well in loam, sand, clay, or gravel.
- Great for borders, herb gardens, prairies and meadows, native plant gardens, naturalized areas or along ponds and streams.
- No serious pest or disease issues.
- Propagate by dividing plants in spring or taking tip cuttings in early summer.
- Native to eastern North America.
Buy Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia Mountain Mint)
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 7 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Frank Mayfield, Melissa McMasters, Justin Meissen, Flickr
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 7 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |