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

Cultivation Information Hoary Mountain Mint


Height - 2 to 3 ft Flower Color - White with pale purple with polka-dotsBlooms - July - SeptemberSun - Sun to Part shade - Woodland edgeSoil - Dry to Normal - can handle, drought and clay. Useful for eroding soilPerennial Hardy Zone - 4 to 9Family - 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 visit, Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Hoary Mountain Mint
Stratifying Seeds
Seed collected - Fall of 2020 - were first dried. Dried seed have a unique smell that I can't quite put a finger on. Perhaps, a combination of several Italian herbs, definitely not minty like I would have expected.
Stratification - Suggested no pretreatment - I prefer to cold/moist storage my seeds for 30 days or sow in the fall outdoors.
Sowing seeds - These seeds need light in order to germinate, gently sprinkle them on top of the potting soil but don't cover them with soil.
Seed Provenance Pycnanthemum incanum
Nodding Onion Gardens 2020, Native Bee-ginnings, Pennsylvania 2019
Ohio Department of Agriculture Nursery Inspection 2010 - 2023
© 2023 Nodding Onion Gardens, LLCColumbia Station, Ohio 44028I