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Pycnanthemum virginianum, Mountain Mint, Quart pot
Pycnanthemum virginanium, Mountain Mint
FS-PS, Zone 3, blooms June - September, 3’ x 18”, wet to medium dry, sand to some clay.
Keystone Species - Supports at least 4 species of moths and the Gray Hairstreak butterfly. While not a host for specialist bees, it is known to attract a "world of specialist pollinating insects" like predatory wasps, beetles, and flies that are rarely seen on other garden flowers. It serves as a host for wedge-shaped beetle larvae (Ripiphoridae species), which often use the flowers as a starting point to find hosts like wasps. The plant produces dense, white flower clusters (cymes) that provide a massive, reliable nectar source, particularly during the mid-summer to fall "dearth" when other resources are scarce. It is known to attract predatory and parasitoid insects that prey upon garden pests, promoting a balanced ecosystem.
Pycnanthemum means ‘densely flowered,’ which is why this plant can feed many different insects at the same time. However, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time, beginning with the outer circle of flowers and ending towards the center. You will see the Great Black and Golden Digger wasps as well as tiny resin bees. Most white flowers do not draw as many pollinators. However, if you look closely at the tiny flowers you may see purple spots on the petals surrounding the disc that serve as guides! A favorite of bumble bees who work their way across the flower disc sipping from each tiny bloom. Its seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system produces rhizomes, which spread a short distance from the mother plant. Soon, a small colony of plants are formed. Our 2020 Mountain Mints (2-3 yr old’s) produced outstanding colonies. We enjoyed their floral display and banquet for the small ones! A very good cut flower. Good winter interest! Does better in FS than PS.
Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. Typical visitors from these groups include honeybees, Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Eumenine wasps, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Wedge-shaped beetles, and Pearl Crescent butterflies. Mountain Mint is a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly and many moth species.
DA Plant Notes - This was one of the first natives we planted that absolutely wowed us, in their first year blooms. From the large predatory wasps to the tiniest of native bees, they come. Our reaction was - where have all these bees and wasps we had never seen before been? Now we know! There are a few different Mountain Mints, find one to plant and you will see.
Pycnanthemum virginanium, Mountain Mint
FS-PS, Zone 3, blooms June - September, 3’ x 18”, wet to medium dry, sand to some clay.
Keystone Species - Supports at least 4 species of moths and the Gray Hairstreak butterfly. While not a host for specialist bees, it is known to attract a "world of specialist pollinating insects" like predatory wasps, beetles, and flies that are rarely seen on other garden flowers. It serves as a host for wedge-shaped beetle larvae (Ripiphoridae species), which often use the flowers as a starting point to find hosts like wasps. The plant produces dense, white flower clusters (cymes) that provide a massive, reliable nectar source, particularly during the mid-summer to fall "dearth" when other resources are scarce. It is known to attract predatory and parasitoid insects that prey upon garden pests, promoting a balanced ecosystem.
Pycnanthemum means ‘densely flowered,’ which is why this plant can feed many different insects at the same time. However, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time, beginning with the outer circle of flowers and ending towards the center. You will see the Great Black and Golden Digger wasps as well as tiny resin bees. Most white flowers do not draw as many pollinators. However, if you look closely at the tiny flowers you may see purple spots on the petals surrounding the disc that serve as guides! A favorite of bumble bees who work their way across the flower disc sipping from each tiny bloom. Its seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind. The root system produces rhizomes, which spread a short distance from the mother plant. Soon, a small colony of plants are formed. Our 2020 Mountain Mints (2-3 yr old’s) produced outstanding colonies. We enjoyed their floral display and banquet for the small ones! A very good cut flower. Good winter interest! Does better in FS than PS.
Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. Typical visitors from these groups include honeybees, Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Eumenine wasps, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Wedge-shaped beetles, and Pearl Crescent butterflies. Mountain Mint is a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly and many moth species.
DA Plant Notes - This was one of the first natives we planted that absolutely wowed us, in their first year blooms. From the large predatory wasps to the tiniest of native bees, they come. Our reaction was - where have all these bees and wasps we had never seen before been? Now we know! There are a few different Mountain Mints, find one to plant and you will see.