Pycnanthemum muticum
Origin: Eastern North America
Improvement status: Cultivated wild material
Seeds per packet: ~125
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
A perennial mint relative, native to the central and eastern US, with a powerful scent. Unlike true mints of the genus Mentha, mountain mints are well-behaved and do not spread aggressively. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation recommends this species for beneficial insects and pollinators. It's of special value to crop-pollinating bees and crop-protecting wasps but used by a great many species. Hollow stems valuable for overwintering and nesting insects. We've been told the foliage is too strong by to use as tea on its own (think eucalyptus rather than peppermint), but tastes nice in blended teas — however, we've also been told it has enough pugelone (the same compound is found in high concentrations in dangerous pennyroyal) to cause liver damage in even moderate doses. Pugelone can make it a useful insect repellent though (rubbing it on exposed skin). Needless to say, we don't recommend using it culinarily.
These seeds were grown in western Massachusetts by our friend Eric Toensmeier, the great author, scholar, educator, and farmer.
GROWING TIPS: No stratification necessary, but fall or winter sowing can be very effective. Surface-sow, as they require some light to germinate. Llikes full sun to part shade, and moist but well-draining soil, though can tolerate dry soils as well, especially once well-established. USDA zones 4-8.
NOTE: First photo is from Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Second photo is from peganum from Henfield, England, and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Third is in the public domain.
