Pycnanthemum incanum Hoary Mountain Mint

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Pycnanthemum incanum visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website. Endangered - Vermont and New Hampshire
Silvery White and gorgeous
Pycnanthemum incanum seedlings

Cultivation Information Hoary Mountain Mint


Height - 2 to 3 ft Flower Color - White with pale purple with poka-dotsBlooms - July - SeptemberSun - Sun to part shade - woodland edgeSoil - Dry to normal - can handle, drought and clay. Useful for eroding soil Hardy Zone - 4 to 8Family - Lamiaceae
Leaves - Silvery white as the plant matures. This past season (2020) was the first time we have raised Hoary Mint. Initially, I thought the plant was sick and had something similar to Powdery Mildew. A closer inspection reveled the baby powder like coating was the telling sign that our plants were indeed Hoary Mint. Hoary means pale white and in the Greek language Pycnanthemum means densely flowered.
Notice the purple dots!

Wildlife Significance Hoary Mountain Mint

Nectar - Hummingbirds, skippers, Hairstreak butterfly, day flying moths, tachinid flies, syrphid flies, beetles, beneficial wasps
Pollination - Sweet bees, Digger bees and other native bees.
Seed - Large amount of seed produce evidently birds aren't especially fond of them
Pollen nourishment - Leaf Beetles, flies,Deer - Tend to avoid plants in the mint family For more details on Pycnanthemum incanum please visit Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Hoary Mountain Mint

Seed collected - Fall of 2020 - were first dried. Dried seed have an unique smell that I can't quite put a finger on. Maybe a combination of severeal Italian herbs. Definitely not minty like I would expect.
*Note to self, in the spring of 2022, take notice of what fresh Hoary Mint leaves smell like.
Stratification - Suggested no pretreatment - I like to cold/moist storage my seeds for 30 days or sow in the fall outdoors.
Seed Provenance Pycnanthemum incanum
Nodding Onion Gardens 2020, Native Bee-ginnings, Pennsylvania 2019