Virginia Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Virginia Mountain Mints small white flowers are loaded with nectar that attract copious pollinators of every type from long and short tongued bees, butterflies, moths, flies and predatory wasps (which can help control vegetable garden pests such as aphids and beetles). Wonderfully scented foliage adds an extra level of interest to the garden before and after this mints extended bloom time has passed. The strong scent of the foliage tends to deter herbivores from munching on this plant.

This member of the mint family is clump forming and spreads by rhizomes. Virginia Mountain Mint is one of the more well behaved of the mints, it is usually not very aggressive and is easy to cut back to keep it in place. That being said, planting in large drifts is recommended to mimic its natural growth in the wild and create a larger ‘beacon’ for the pollinators it feeds.