August 8, 2026

I’ve always admired the ability of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) to attract pollinators. It’s not a native plant, which normally would really discourage me from planting it, and in many circumstances it is quite the aggressive plant, which would be an additional strike against it. But my back hill is perfect for keeping it under control. And as I said, it attracts an incredible number of pollinators.

Yesterday I noticed there were at least 10 Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) busy at the blooms.

The flowers of the Apple Mint seem to be always buzzing with the activity of these and other butterflies, and an assortment of bees large and small, moths, syrphid and tachinid flies, and many more.

One busy patch of mint.

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