Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Fine, thread-like foliage gives an airy texture fit for polished borders. Silvery midsummer blooms draw steady bees and butterflies.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Fine-textured mountain mint with the same explosive pollinator draw as the species. the silvery summer bracts and narrow foliage make it more elegant in formal borders.
Narrowleaf Mountain Mint is named for the fine, thread-like leaves that give the whole plant a delicate, airy texture compared to its broader-leaved relatives. But the fragrance is just as strong, the same sharp spearmint scent when brushed or crushed, and the pollinator performance is equally impressive. The small white flowers bloom in midsummer from July through August, and the surrounding bracts take on a silvery-frosted appearance that makes the whole upper portion of the plant look dusted with silver while in bloom. This is one of the most graceful-looking mountain mints, the narrow foliage and fine texture making it a better fit for polished borders where broader-leaved species might feel too coarse. It performs well in moist to average soils and spreads by rhizome at a moderate rate. The pollinator traffic in summer is consistent and diverse, a reliable draw for native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects through the peak summer season. Leave the seed heads standing through fall for late-foraging bees and seed-eating birds.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown narrowleaf mountain mint propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant narrowleaf mountain mint instead of Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) in moist, sunny areas. Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 1.5–2.5 ft · 18–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- Midsummer
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from Maine south to Florida; moist meadows, wet prairies, and disturbed areas
Care notes for narrowleaf mountain mint.
Full to part sun, moist to average well-drained soil. Spreads by rhizome at a moderate rate. divide in spring every two to three years to manage spread. Cut back hard in early spring. Drought tolerant once established. The mint fragrance reliably deters deer. No pest or disease issues. Leave seed heads for birds through fall.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside narrowleaf mountain mint.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
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Shade Bed Package
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Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.