I wrote about this amazing plant last year, but it is worth a repeat. Short-Toothed Mountain Mint is the most astounding pollinator attractor I have ever seen. We have two plants in their second year and at any given time throughout the day there will be 25 to 50 bees – mostly honeybees – on each plant. I have seen more honeybees on these plants in one day than I have seen in my yard for the past 5 years. Bees love it and so do all pollinators. One gardener said he has counter over 70 different pollinators that visit his plants.
For the record, Pycnanthemum muticum is an aromatic perennial wildflower. This mint relative bears oval toothed leaves on strong square stems. In summer, plants are topped by dense rounded clusters of tiny white to lavender tubular flowers. Pollinators flock to the blooms in sunny gardens with average well drained soils.
While desirable pollinators are attracted to the blooms, the plants are fairly pest resistant. The aromatic foliage is unpalatable to deer, rabbits, and other herbivores.
Short-toothed Mountain mint is native to North America and grows 2 to 3 feet tall in full sun or part shade. It is not fussy about soil moisture. This plant is not aggressive but like any mint, it will often spread.
The plants cost about $10 each but are worth ten times more in attracting beneficial insects. I encourage all my fellow gardeners to invest in a few of these un-Bee-lievable plants.