Common Names: Hoary Mountain Mint
Scientific Name: Pycnanthemum incanum
 
Plant Characteristics
• Duration: Perennial
• Size: Typically grows to a height of 2–4 ft., with upright, branching stems.
• Foliage: Opposite, oval to lance-shaped gray-green leaves with a slightly fuzzy, silvery appearance.
• Bloom Color: Small white to pale pink flowers clustered in dense, rounded heads with purple markings.
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early Fall
 
Growing Conditions
• Water Use: Low to Medium
• Light Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium, well-drained
 
Ecological Benefits
Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) is a native perennial of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont, commonly found in dry woodlands, meadows, woodland edges, and rocky areas. Its abundant flowers are highly attractive to a wide variety of native pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
 
The plant's aromatic foliage helps make it resistant to browsing by deer, while its dense growth provides habitat and cover for insects and other wildlife. Its adaptability to dry, well-drained soils makes it a valuable addition to pollinator gardens, meadows, and ecological restoration projects.
 
Local Ecotype: This plant is available as a local ecotype variety. Our team hand-collects seeds from native wildflowers growing in conservation areas we manage, and these plants are grown from that locally collected seed. Local ecotypes are adapted to the conditions of their native region and can help preserve local genetic diversity, support regional wildlife, and strengthen the ecological resilience of native plant communities.

Photo credit: Ernst Seeds