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Whorled Mountain-mint

Pycnanthemum verticillatum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Whorled Mountain-mint is an upright forb that blooms from July through September in meadows, woodland edges, and moist fields across the eastern and central United States, thriving in full sun with medium moisture.

Whorled Mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum verticillatum)
Photo: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 3: 142. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Whorled Mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum verticillatum) 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"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CT, GA and 21 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, wasps

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

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.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Ozark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Whorled mountain-mint is a fragrant native perennial with aromatic foliage and small white flowers clustered at the stem tips. It forms neat clumps and blooms from July through September, creating a tidy appearance in the garden. The silvery-white flower clusters provide long-lasting color and interesting texture.

Growing Whorled Mountain-mint

Grow Whorled Mountain-mint in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Whorled Mountain-mint is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

  • May spread gradually by underground stems

Wildlife value

This plant is a pollinator magnet, attracting numerous bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps throughout its long bloom period. The dense flower clusters provide excellent nectar sources during late summer when many other plants have finished flowering.

Common questions

When does Whorled Mountain-mint bloom?
Whorled Mountain-mint blooms from July through September, producing small clustered flowers atop square stems typical of the mint family.
What pollinators visit Whorled Mountain-mint?
Bees, butterflies, and wasps are frequent visitors. Pycnanthemum species are widely recognized as some of the most attractive nectar plants for a broad range of pollinating insects.
What growing conditions suit Whorled Mountain-mint best?
It grows best in full sun with medium soil moisture, though established plants can handle brief dry spells and light shade in meadows and open woodland edges.
Is Whorled Mountain-mint easy to grow in a garden setting?
Yes. It tolerates average garden soil, spreads readily by rhizomes, and holds up well in pollinator gardens or naturalized plantings once established.
Is Whorled Mountain-mint HOA-friendly?
Whorled 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 the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

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