Appalachian Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum flexuosum

Appalachian Mountain Mint is the mountain mint adapted to the drier, more challenging conditions of rocky Appalachian slopes and woodland edges. more drought tolerant than Virginia or narrowleaf mountain mint, comfortable in average to lean, rocky soil as long as drainage is good. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are fragrant when touched, releasing the same sharp spearmint scent as all Pycnanthemum species, and the midsummer white flower clusters bring the same intense pollinator traffic. This is the mountain mint to choose if your site is drier or rockier than ideal for the moisture-loving species. The 'flexuosum' epithet refers to the flexing, branching habit of the stems. the plant has a somewhat looser, more open structure than some other mountain mints, which gives it an easy, naturalistic quality in the garden. Plant it in full sun with good drainage and it will establish reliably and spread moderately to fill in its allotted space over several seasons. The mint fragrance is consistently deer-deterrent, and the pollinator performance in summer is excellent despite the drier site conditions this species tolerates.