Shorttooth Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Shorttooth Mountain Mint is frequently cited by native plant experts as one of the single best plants for native bees in the eastern US. the broad, rounded, almost silvery-white bracts that surround the midsummer flower clusters create a frosted look that stands out from twenty feet away, and the flat flower heads provide easy landing platforms that bees of all sizes and tongue lengths can access. The result is a plant that buzzes continuously from July through September, drawing more species and individuals than almost any other perennial in the moist garden. Unlike the narrower-leaved mountain mints, Shorttooth Mountain Mint has broad, rounded, slightly clasping leaves that give it a bolder texture and a more substantial presence in the border. The silvery bracts are particularly striking in late summer when the spent flowers are replaced by the frosted bract clusters that hold their color through early fall. The mint fragrance is strong and reliable as a deer deterrent. In moist, sunny sites it spreads confidently to fill a space. give it room, or divide it every two to three years to keep it contained.