woodland wildflower

Hoary Mountainmint

Pycnanthemum incanum

Also known as Hoary Mountain Mint, Silverleaf Mountain Mint

Native to much of the USA

Southwestern New Hampshire and New York to southern Ohio and southern Illinois, south to Georgia and Mississippi

Light Full sun to part shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
Zones 5–8 Cold to heat range
Bloom Jun–Jul Flowering time
Height up to 6 ft to 1.8 m
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for full sun to part shade and dry to moist soil. At up to 6 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 5–8.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

Pollinators & wildlife

Butterflies Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

also Red Admiral, Common Buckeye, Fiery Skipper +15 more
Silver-spotted Skipper, Gray Hairstreak, American Lady, Great Spangled Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, Peck's Skipper, American Snout, Horace's Duskywing, Red-banded Hairstreak, American Copper, Banded Hairstreak, Little Glassywing, Mitoura gryneus, Cyaniris neglecta, Abaeis nicippe
Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Eastern Carpenter Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee +11 more
Two-spotted Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee, Ligated Furrow Bee, Tricolored Bumble Bee, Pure Green Sweat bee, Two-spotted Longhorn Bee, Perplexing Bumble Bee, Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Sculptured Resin Bee, Oblong Woolcarder Bee, Slender-faced Masked Bee
Wasps Fraternal Potter Wasp

also Four-toothed Mason Wasp, Common Aerial Yellowjacket, Pseudodynerus quadrisectus +5 more
European tube wasp, One-banded Mason Wasp, Zethus spinipes variegatus, Hidalgo Mason Wasp, Zethus spinipes
Also visited by
- Flower flies:
  
  Eastern Calligrapher, Thick-legged Hover Fly +3 more
  Eurasian Drone Fly, Tufted Globetail, Broad-banded Hornet Fly
- Beetles:
  
  Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, Banded Longhorn Beetle +2 more
  Slender Flower Longhorn Beetle, Tumbling Ragdoll
- Moths: Orange Mint Moth

Butterflies that use this plant

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USAUnited States (22): AL, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Southwestern New Hampshire and New York to southern Ohio and southern Illinois, south to Georgia and MississippiThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Full sun to part shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 5–8 · Canadian 6–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Mesic to dry, rich soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Water use: Low to mediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.

Growth & form

Height: up to 6 ft (to 1.8 m)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: Jun–JulWhen it flowers.
Flower color: White, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: NutletsThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.