Hoary Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum incanum

Hoary Mountain Mint is named for the dense white, hoary (dusty-white) covering on the undersides of the broad, ovate leaves. turn a leaf over and you'll see the dense white hairs that give the plant its common name. The topside of the foliage is a soft gray-green, and the whole plant has a muted, silvery quality that pairs beautifully with the white midsummer flowers and the frosted look of the surrounding bracts. At two to four feet, it's one of the taller mountain mints, with a more open, woodland-edge character that makes it adaptable to drier and shadier conditions than most Pycnanthemum. The mint fragrance is strong and the pollinator performance is outstanding. bees cover the flowers from morning to dusk during the July-August bloom window. The combination of deer resistance, fragrance, pollinator value, and adaptability to drier sites makes Hoary Mountain Mint one of the most versatile mountain mints for gardens where consistent moisture isn't available. It spreads moderately and self-seeds lightly, maintaining a loose colony without becoming aggressive.