Mint: Mountain (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
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$1.00 - $5.60
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Around 1790, as French botanist Andre Michaux tromped through the Pennsylvania woods in search of useful plants, he encountered vigorous knee-high masses of a lovely scented plant he called mountain mint. Mountain Mint is valued for their beauty and fragrance, as well as for their ability to attract butterflies and tiny (non-biting) beneficial bees, wasps and flies. It has somewhat of a misleading name as this wildflower is most commonly found in moist prairies, meadows, and swamps. None the less its clusters of small, white, 2-lipped flowers and strongly minty scented foliage add delight to any garden!
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Scientific Name: Pycnanthemum virginianum
Also Known As: Virginia Mountainmint, Wild Basil, Prairie Hyssop
Native Range: Eastern United States
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): July to September
Light: Full sun
Water: Medium
Soil moisture: Medium, well-drained.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attract a large number of nectar seeking insects and butterflies.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 24-36”
Spacing: 15-24”
Sow Depth: On Soil Surface
USDA Zone: 3a-7b
Produces: Clusters of small, white, 2-lipped flowers and strongly minty scented foliage.
Garden Uses: Interesting plant for the herb garden, border, naturalized area or meadow. Also may be grown in open areas near ponds and streams.
Also Known As: Virginia Mountainmint, Wild Basil, Prairie Hyssop
Native Range: Eastern United States
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): July to September
Light: Full sun
Water: Medium
Soil moisture: Medium, well-drained.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attract a large number of nectar seeking insects and butterflies.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 24-36”
Spacing: 15-24”
Sow Depth: On Soil Surface
USDA Zone: 3a-7b
Produces: Clusters of small, white, 2-lipped flowers and strongly minty scented foliage.
Garden Uses: Interesting plant for the herb garden, border, naturalized area or meadow. Also may be grown in open areas near ponds and streams.
Direct sow in early spring as soon as the soil has warmed, pressing into the surface of the soil surface since this plant needs light to germinate. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination. If starting the seed indoors, keep in mind that the best temperature for germination is 70 degrees F. Keep seedlings lightly moist, and transplant them as soon as they have developed several leaves.
Water seedlings regularly until they become established, and control weeds. Mature plants tolerate drought well and flourish in fairly dry soil, though they will benefit from occasional watering in dry weather. This plant also grows well in rocky or clay soil. It can spread vigorously by rhizomes once established, though it does not usually reseed. This plant is extremely attractive to bees, and is a valuable nectar plant; it also grows well in containers.
This plant can be harvested for both fresh and dried use. Choose stems that are just beginning to bloom, cutting them in the morning before the dew has dried.
When the flower spikes begin to dry and turn color, shake the entire plant's seed heads over a container to remove the seed. To collect the most seed, repeat the process daily until all the seed has matured. Store the seed in a cool, dry place.
Flower buds and leaves: raw or cooked. A mint-like flavor, they make a nice addition to salads or can be used as a condiment. The fresh or dried leaves are brewed into a refreshing mint-like tea.
A tea made from the leaves is alterative, diaphoretic and carminative. A poultice of the leaves is used in the treatment of headaches. The tea is also used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, indigestion, colic, coughs, colds, chills and fevers.The flowering stems are cut as flowering begins and they can be used fresh or dried. There is a suggestion that this plant can cause abortions, so it is best not used by pregnant women.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
In dry prairies it is found with little bluestem, sky-blue aster, coreopsis, wild strawberry, switch grass, yellow coneflower, black-eyed Susan, stiff goldenrod, prairie dropseed, spiderwort, and golden Alexanders. In moist prairies and fens it is found with bluejoint grass, marsh shield fern, sneezeweed, sawtooth sunflower, yellow stargrass, rattlesnake root, cord grass, New England aster, spotted joe-pye weed, boneset, and cowbane.
Suggested Varieties
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
$1.00 - $5.60
This cheerful, widespread wildflower is considered an annual to a short-lived perennial across its range. Bright-yellow, 2-3 in. wide, daisy-like flowers with dark centers are its claim-to-fame. They occur singly atop 1-2 ft. stems. The stems and scattered, oval leaves are covered with bristly hairs. Coarse, rough-stemmed plant with daisy-like flower heads made up of showy golden-yellow ray flowers, with disk flowers forming a brown central cone.
This native prairie biennial forms a rosette of leaves the first year, followed by flowers the second year. It is covered with hairs that give it a slightly rough texture. The Green-headed Coneflower (R. laciniata) has yellow ray flowers pointing downward, a greenish-yellow disk, and irregularly divided leaves.
This native prairie biennial forms a rosette of leaves the first year, followed by flowers the second year. It is covered with hairs that give it a slightly rough texture. The Green-headed Coneflower (R. laciniata) has yellow ray flowers pointing downward, a greenish-yellow disk, and irregularly divided leaves.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
$1.00 - $5.60
In spite of the name, Boneset has no connection to broken bones. Early settlers used this plant in the treatment of dengue or “break-bone” fever, which is carried by mosquitoes and causes muscular pain so horrific it feels like bones are breaking. Though its medicinal effectiveness has been debated in recent years, it was once used as a cure-all for the common cold, coughs, and various other complaints. During colonial times, boneset was one of the most well-known healing plants in America.
Spiderwort: Prairie (Tradescantia occidentalis)
$1.00 - $5.60
This beautiful wildflower is a wonderful shade of blue and will brighten your days year after year! Often found growing in fields, woods, ditches, this plant is native to a large part of the US. Though sometimes accounted as a weed, it is often cultivated for use in flowerbeds and containers and ,when it is found growing wild, it is usually welcomed and allowed to stay!