A native mint with frosted silvery-white leaves and dense flat-topped clusters of pink-purple flowers. Among the most pollinator-attractive native plants — buzzing with bees, wasps, and butterflies during August bloom.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Pycnanthemum incanum, with the common name hoary mountainmint, "mountain mint", wild basil or hoary basil, is a herbaceous perennial in the mint family.
Source: Wikipedia — Pycnanthemum incanum Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Tall plant with whorled silvery-frosted leaves and dense flat-topped clusters of tiny pink-purple flowers. Square stems; strong minty smell when crushed.
Similar species. Other Pycnanthemum species (different leaf width or hairiness). Bee balm (Monarda) — different flower shape.
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Native eastern wildflower. Among the top-ranked pollinator plants in North American garden trials — Penn State pollinator trials documented 80+ insect species visiting a single plant in one day. Aromatic mint scent deters deer. Blooms July–September.
§ Range
Eastern US
§ Habitat
Open woodlands, prairie edges, meadows
§ Threats
Habitat loss, garden monocultures, deer browsing.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the hoary mountain mint is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native mountain mints. Skip pesticides. Tolerate spreading clumps.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pycnanthemum incanum
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Pycnanthemum incanum
- iNaturalist · taxon 75977
- IUCN Red List — search for Pycnanthemum incanum
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pycnanthemum incanum
§ Sources cited
- Penn State Pollinator Trial
- Mt. Cuba Center Pollinator Trial
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- USDA Plants Database
