Blunt mountain mint is a native, herbaceous perennial, wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to eastern Canada and eastern United States. The species epithet is Latin for “blunt,” and refers to the shape of the bracts below the flowers. They are not exactly "blunt," but they are less pointed than those of other species. Blunt mountain mint grows in full sun to partial shade and in moist soil with good drainage. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall in a space of 2 to 3 feet. Although blunt mountain mint is not considered invasive, it is a vigorous grower, spreading its rhizomes, in optimum conditions. If spreading is not needed or wanted, the roots should be pruned in the spring with a spade. The leaves emit a strong spearmint fragrance when crushed. The leaves and flowers may be used for tea.The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Blue mountain mint selected as the 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association. It is commonly found in woodland areas and thickets. The best landscape uses include butterfly, edible, native, pollinator and rain gardens. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Plant is weedy. More information on Pycnanthemum .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗Reconciled to full toolbox: matched by slug to slug 'pycnanthemum-muticum'. Identity (id/common/scientific name) preserved from the original 87-plant Hunnicutt set; attribute data refreshed from the 48-attribute toolbox scrape.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf value
Edible; Fragrant; Good Dried
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite, broad toothed leaves; rounded at base
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Edible; Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Cluster of two-lipped whitish flowers; lower lip has three lobes and upper lip has two lobes. Less showy than other species in the genus. Blooms from June to August.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from September to October.
Stem detail
Square stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Central & Eastern U.S.A
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators.