Pycnanthemum muticum

Blunt Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is an upright, mounding mint with dark green leaves, and pale pink / lavender flowers that are surrounded by leaves with a silver highlight (bracts). Blooms July to September.  The foliage smells like spearmint when crushed; and the leaves and flowers may be used for tea, and in baking and jellies.

Pycnanthemum muticum is densely leaved, and grows 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It is a vigorous grower, but not considered invasive. If you want to control it, the roots should be pruned in the spring with a spade. Also known as Clustered Mountain Mint, this wild mint is native to eastern USA, where it is commonly found in woodland areas and thickets. The flowers attract butterflies and other insect pollinators.

Use Blunt Mountain Mint in butterfly, pollinator gardens and edible gardens. When planted en masse, the silvery bracts around the flowers give the entire planting the appearance of being lightly dusted by snow. Deer resistant.