Whiteleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum albescens
Last reviewed: August 2026
Whiteleaf mountain mint is a bee-favored forb that blooms from June through August in prairies, glades, and open woodlands across the southern and central United States.
Toxicity unknown
Whiteleaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum albescens) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–48" H × 12"–48" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, FL, IL and 9 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Whiteleaf Mountain Mint is a hardy Texas native perennial with silvery-white foliage and clusters of small white flowers that bloom throughout summer. This aromatic herb spreads to form attractive colonies and releases a pleasant minty fragrance when brushed against. The plant dies back to the ground in winter and returns each spring with fresh growth.
Growing Whiteleaf Mountain Mint
Grow Whiteleaf Mountain Mint in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Whiteleaf Mountain Mint is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- May flop without support
- Best in less formal zones
Wildlife value
This plant is exceptionally valuable for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects during its long summer bloom period. The dense flower clusters provide abundant nectar and pollen when many other plants have finished flowering.
Common questions
- When does whiteleaf mountain mint bloom?
- It flowers from June through August, producing dense clusters of small whitish blooms.
- What growing conditions suit whiteleaf mountain mint best?
- It thrives in full sun with medium soil moisture, though it also tolerates drier sites once established.
- Does whiteleaf mountain mint attract pollinators?
- Yes, its flower clusters are a strong draw for bees, which visit heavily during the summer bloom period.
- Is whiteleaf mountain mint easy to grow in a garden bed?
- It is a low-maintenance forb suited to sunny, well-drained beds, meadows, and pollinator gardens, and it spreads readily once established.
- Is Whiteleaf Mountain Mint HOA-friendly?
- Whiteleaf Mountain Mint is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Whiteleaf Mountain Mint? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz