Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum spp.

Mountain mint is a North American wildflower that is native to many parts of the continent. Mountain mint is found growing in meadows, prairies, and woodland edges. It is a perennial herb that has square stems which are upright. Mountain mint has small, tubular flowers that are white or pale lavender and are clustered together. It has fragrant leaves that release a strong, minty scent when they are crushed. The leaves and stems often have a silvery cast which gives the plant a soft shimmer when it is in the sunlight.

Mountain mint has a long history of being used as a traditional medicine by Native Americans and early settlers [1][2]. Mountain mint was used to treat fevers, coughs, and digestive problems. Leaves were often brewed as a tea which was thought to relieve congestion, help with breathing, and calm the stomach. The essential oils of mountain mint contain menthone and pulegone. These compounds have antimicrobial and expectorant properties [3][4]. The flavor of mountain mint is very strong and the plant is usually mixed with other herbs with a more subtle taste when it is used in teas or tonics.

Mountain mint is still a well-regarded plant in both herbalism and ecology. Mountain mint is the most attractive plant to pollinators of all native plants and is rich in benefits for bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps during midsummer and fall [5]. It has a long blooming season and a high nectar production, which makes it a useful plant in native gardens and restoration projects.

Mountain mint is a plant that has fragrance, hardiness, and harmony to offer to the landscape. Mountain mint supports human health in the form of traditional medicine and supports healthy ecosystems in the form of abundance.

[1] AltNature. “Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.): Wild Mint Herb Uses, Description and Pictures.” 2025. https://altnature.com/gallery/wild_mint.htm

[2] Georgia Native Plant Society. “2020 Plant of the Year: Southern Mountain Mint.” 2020. https://gnps.org/2020-plant-of-the-year-southern-mountainmint/

[3] Maas, M., F. Petereit, and A. Hensel. “Chemical Components of Essential Oils from Aerial Parts of Pycnanthemum virginianum and P. californicum (Lamiaceae) Plants.” Journal of Organic & Pharmaceutical Chemistry 21, no. 1 (2023). https://ophcj.nuph.edu.ua/article/view/273810

[4] Isah, A. Y., et al. “Chemistry and Pharmacology of Pulegone and Its Derivatives.” African Journal of Biological Sciences (2024). https://www.afjbs.com/uploads/paper/de2731df97e1fd3a5c4a6a3321c5c73d.pdf

[5] University of Tennessee Gardens. “Mountain Mint – A Pollinator’s Perfect Perennial.” 2022. https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/mountain-mint-a-pollinators-perfect-perennial/