The Drought-Resistant Mint Variety You Have To Try In Your Dry Garden

Why aren't more gardeners planting mountain mint (Pycnanthemum)? It's a question you may have to ask after learning of its many positive qualities. You might think the reason it's not more popular is that it's a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, some of whose members are invasive spreaders. Mountain mint does spread, but not invasively like its mint cousins do. It's a native plant that is a pollinator magnet. It's also deer resistant, suppresses weeds, and can be used for erosion control. Further, it's drought resistant. Of the 19 species of the Pycnanthemum genus, the clustered mountain mint ((Pycnanthemum muticum) and Beadle's mountain mint (Pycnanthemum beadlei) varieties are especially noted for their drought tolerance.

Mountain mint grows 1 to 3 feet tall and puts out long-blooming (July to September) clusters of densely packed flowers, and leaves that exude the fresh fragrance of mint. The flowers' nectar-accessible tubular shape is likely one of reasons pollinators flock to this plant. Mountain mint spreads via shallow rhizomes. You can control this spreading by pruning the roots or by keeping the soil somewhat dry.

Mountain mint, hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, is one of the low-maintenance perennial plants that hardly need any attention to thrive. One reason mountain mint is so low maintenance is that it has no notable pest or disease issues. While mountain mint is drought-tolerant once established, it likes to be planted in moist, well-draining soil but will still thrive in clay soils. The mint can handle acidic soil, though it tends to grow natively in alkaline soil. It's best planted in full or partial sun.

At the end of the growing season, consider leaving mountain mint seed heads for birds to enjoy. Drought-tolerance adds to the easy maintenance of mountain mint, and its ability to bring beneficial bugs to your garden is a significant bonus. You'll want to put the underrated mountain mint on your list of drought-tolerant ground covers you can easily grow in your yard and garden.