How to Grow Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Mountain Mint is one of the finest pollinator plants available, attracting bees, wasps, butterflies, and hoverflies in huge numbers from midsummer onwards. It forms neat clumps of aromatic foliage topped with clusters of tiny white flowers surrounded by striking silvery-white bracts. Plant in full sun to partial shade in any reasonable soil; it tolerates clay, poor soil, and occasional drought once established. Divide clumps every three to four years to keep vigorous.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Light spring feed with a balanced fertiliser if soil is very poor. Generally thrives without feeding.
Watch For
- Generally pest and disease free
- Powdery mildew in very dry conditions
Companions
Echinacea, Monarda, Rudbeckia, Native grasses
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade. Flowering is best in sunny positions.
Spacing
50cm apart; divide every 3-4 years
Space plants 50cm apart. Clumps spread slowly and benefit from division every three to four years.
Watering
Average moisture; drought-tolerant once established
Water regularly after planting until established. Tolerates periodic drought and adapts to various soil moisture levels.
Fertilizing
Minimal feeding; thrives in average soil
No regular feeding needed. A light spring application of balanced fertiliser benefits plants in very poor soils.
Pruning
Cut back in early spring; light deadheading optional
Cut stems to the base in early spring. Deadheading in summer is optional but can tidy the plant.
Mulching
Optional mulch in spring to retain moisture
A light mulch in spring helps moisture retention but is not essential. Avoid thick mulch over the crown.
Growing Tips
Exceptional for pollinators
Few plants rival Mountain Mint for attracting pollinators. Expect bees, wasps, and butterflies in large numbers from midsummer to early autumn.
Tolerates most soils
Mountain Mint adapts to clay, sandy, or poor soils. Good drainage helps but it also manages in wetter conditions better than most mints.
Divide to control spread
Plants spread slowly by rhizomes. Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years in spring to keep them in check and share with other gardeners.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 50 cm |
| Row spacing | 55 cm |
| Mature height | 75 cm |
| Mature spread | 60 cm |
Clump-forming perennial with silvery-white bracts and tiny white flowers. Exceptional pollinator plant. Aromatic foliage, deer resistant. Spreads slowly by rhizomes; divide every 3-4 years.
