A Mint In Bloom Up On The Mountain

July 24, 2025

Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) is in bloom up here, in many places along the road, as I climb the mountain, and in my garden. The word “hoary” in its common name is because of its unusual grayish white coloring.

This mint grows as a bushy plant 2 to 4 feet tall, with many square stems, one indication that it is in the mint (Lamiaceae) family.

Hoary Mountain Mint is popular with many pollinators, including butterflies, moths, honeybees, and some wasps. Like many other mint scented plants, deer and rabbits tend to avoid them, though both deer and rabbits will eat anything if they are hungry enough.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.