Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Slender Mountain Mint) Unity Grown

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, also commonly called slender mountain mint or narrowleaf mountain mint, is a medium-sized native perennial which is similar in appearance to other mountain mints, but which tends to grow more upright and to a shorter height, usually around 20-30" tall but occasionally up to about 4'. Slender mountain mint produces dense, beautiful clusters of small, white or pale purple flowers through the summer and early fall which are very attractive to a wide range of pollinators.

Slender mountain mint, as a relative of the mint family, has a strong minty odor to its tissues, making it resistant to rabbit browsing (though it may still be browsed on occasion), and is also capable of vigorous growth and spreading via rhizomatic roots, but is not as invasive as true mints. Due to its thick roots, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium is more tolerant to dry, rocky, and clay-rich soils than some species of mountain mint, making it an ideal plant choice for dry or difficult landscaping locations.