Hairy Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum Lamiaceae

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived perennial

Native distribution

Eastern U.S.A.

Biocultural value

Leaves make a minty tea and add flavor to fruit punches.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Well-Sweep Herb Farm, Richters, Alfred L. Boerner Botanical Gardens

Description

Stems to 1.5m, branched above, short-hairy; leaves lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, entire or some obscurely toothed, hairy over the entire lower surface, the main ones 2.5-5cm, with usually four pairs of lateral veins; heads numerous, dense, 8-20mm wide; outer foliaceous bracts somewhat velvety above; inner bracts commonly oblanceolate and shorter than the calyx, acute or barely acuminate, densely canescent-tomentulose, the midvein concealed; calyx lobes narrowly deltoid, 0.5 to 1mm.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

fragrance, food