Ah, Appalachian Mountain Mint. A fine choice for the garden.

All plants Card

Appalachian Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum flexuosum

Zones 2–8

Growing

If you enjoy the aromatic scent of crushed herbs, you will appreciate the minty, thyme-like fragrance released when you brush against the foliage of this native perennial. Because this plant belongs to the mint family, it is quite easy to establish in your garden using divisions or cuttings, though you can also start it from seed. When planting, ensure your soil remains evenly moist and stays within a slightly acidic to neutral pH range. This species is a wonderful addition to containers or garden beds where you want a single upright stem to provide structure.

As a hardy perennial, it is capable of surviving hard freezes, making it a reliable choice for much of the Eastern United States. While it can handle various light conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade, it will thrive best when its water needs are met with regular watering. You may notice the plant spreading naturally in your landscape as it drops its own seeds, which can lead to new clusters appearing near the parent plant. This self-seeding habit makes it an excellent choice for adding easy, low-maintenance texture to your pollinator garden.

Stats
Sunfull sun
Watermedium
Grow time—
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Light
Full sun✓
Part shade✓
Shade✓
Traits
Life cycleperennial
Category—
Growth habitupright
Frost tolerancehardy
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Days to bloomover 150
Native us✓
Growing
Watermedium
Drainagemoist
Soil ph min6.0
Soil ph max7.5
Propagation
Seed✓
Cutting✓
Division✓
Graft✗
Tuber bulb crown✗
Transplant✓
Container ok✓
Spreadself seeds
Deer resistant✓
Drought tolerant✓
Toxic to
People✗
Pets✗
Livestock✗
Bloom
Length6–12wk
Colors
White✗
Yellow✗
Orange✗
Red✗
Pink✗
Purple✓
Blue✗
Green✗
Pollinators
Visitors
Honey bees✓
Native bees✓
Bumblebees✓
Butterflies✓
Moths✓
Hummingbirds✗
Beneficial insects✓
Nectarhigh
Pollenhigh
Larval host✓
Specialist bees✓
Seed for birds✓
Invasive
Statusnone
Regions
Northeast✗
Southeast✗
Midwest✗
Plains✗
Southwest✗
Mountain west✗
Pacific northwest✗
California✗
Hawaii✗
State noxious✗
Escapes cultivation✗
Calendar, zone 7
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sownoyesyesyesyesnonononononono
Harvest————————————