Pycnanthemum flexuosum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pik-NAN-thee-mum fleks-yoo-OH-sum
- Description
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Mountain mint is a NC native perennial in the mint family found primarily in the coastal and Piedmont areas of the state. The fragrant leaves and flowers attract pollinators including bees, butterflies and wasps. It is resistant to browsing by rabbits and deer. In late summer it is topped by rounded clusters of white to lavender tubular flowers.
Mountain Mint prefers rich loamy moist soil with good drainage in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate drier conditions once established. Use in the pollinator/native garden, naturalized areas, meadows, or along ponds or streams.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pycnanthemum
- Species:
- flexuosum
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators including bees, butterflies, wasps. A larval host plant for the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Terminal dense globular clusters of tiny white to lavender tubular flowers with purple spots. Blooms late summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Thick oval to lance-shaped fragrant green leaves with toothed margins are red-tinged in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Branched green square stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
