• Image of Pycnanthemum loomisii Campbell Co. TNtaken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC by JLBG
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Pycnanthemum loomisii Campbell Co. TN

Loomis' Mountain Mint

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 9677

Zones: 6a to 8b, at least

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 54" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: United States

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Pycnanthemum loomisii is a little known native mountain mint that hails from Illinois south to Florida. Our offering is from an Aaron Floden accession in Campbell Co., Tennessee. For us, Pycnanthemum loomisii has formed a 4.5' tall x 4.5' wide patch of sturdy stalks of peppermint-scented, grey-green foliage in 3 years. Compared to many of the highly invasive, running mountain mints, Pycnanthemum loomisii plays well with others...as long as you give it enough room. Loomis' mountain mint tops out at 4.5' tall for us in late June, when the upper leaves turn bright silver and are adorned with the tiny pink-lavender terminal flowers. The number of cool insects that it attracts to the garden is truly amazing!

Maintenance:

Cut last year's stems to the ground before new growth starts in spring, or whenever they get shabby or you tire of their presence. Generally the seed heads remain attractive all winter. This is all it requires in the way of maintenance.

Of the 20 species of Pycnanthemum, some are clump forming, others are spreading. The clump forming species are suitable even to a small sunny garden. The spreading Mountain Mints are perhaps better suited to larger gardens where larger masses of ground covering plants are desired.

Growing Conditions:

Sun to part sun is best both for flowering and the pollinators which flock to the flowers. Average soil conditions are preferred.

Garden Value:

The Mountain Mints are superb supporters of a wide range of pollinating insects, especially so for many species are in bloom for several months. Beyond the importance of supporting pollinators there is the shear joy and entertainment of watching a wide range of insects working these flowers; a veritable Serengeti Plains in a few square feet of ones garden. They are attractive in bloom as well as in their winter forms and are usually avoided by deer and rabbits.

Natural Impact:

Include in any sunny garden where one hopes to support pollinating insects.