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🌱 Medicinal

Blunt Mountain Mint

Pycantheum muticum

$14.00
New
Medicinal

| Hardiness Zones 4-8

Looking for a pollinator magnet with powerhouse presence? Pycnanthemum muticum—blunt mountain mint—is your garden’s secret weapon. With broad, silvery bracts that shimmer in the sun like a sea of frost-touched foliage, this native perennial brings a cooling effect to even the hottest summer beds. From mid to late summer, it erupts in dense clusters of tiny, soft pink flowers that buzz with activity—bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects can’t resist it.

Tough, deer-resistant, and aromatic (with minty foliage that’s a delight to brush against), P. muticum forms dense, upright clumps that can help define a wild border, meadow edge, or herb garden. Despite its good looks, it’s low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, thriving in average to moist soils and full to part sun.

Whether you’re building an ecological planting or just want something that thrums with life, blunt mountain mint is a bold and beautiful native you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.
Plant Info

Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8

Height: 2 to 3 Feet

Spread: 2 to 3 Feet

Seaonsal: Dies back

Growth Rate: Fast
Medicinal Uses
  • General Wellness
Care Instructions
Flower & Foliage Description

Foliage:

The foliage of blunt mountain mint is one of its standout features. Broad, oval-shaped leaves are smooth-edged (hence the “blunt” in its name) and emit a strong minty aroma when touched or crushed. The uppermost leaves near the flower heads are often covered in a soft silvery bloom, giving the plant a luminous, frosted look in the garden—especially striking in mass plantings or when catching the morning light.

Flowers:

Pycnanthemum muticum produces dense clusters of tiny, tubular, pale pink to white flowers nestled within large, showy silver bracts. These bracts are often mistaken for petals, adding to the ornamental appeal. The flowers bloom from mid to late summer (typically July to September) and are exceptionally attractive to pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps.

Fruit:

Following bloom, the plant produces tiny nutlets—dry fruits that are not particularly showy but may persist into fall. These may self-sow in favorable conditions, although the plant spreads more reliably by rhizome than by seed.

Pickup available at Aiken Nursery

Usually ready in 2-4 days

research rating: 2.0 / 5

Blunt Mountain Mint

  • General Wellness

P. muticum is a member of a wonderfully medicinal plant group: Mountain Mint. While sisters to P. muticum have been known to provide medicinal aide by internal application, P. muticum is a wonderful external medicine safe to rub on clothes to deter chiggers, gnats, and ticks. Mountain Mint has also become a popular essential oil, providing additional beneftis in cleansing a home and providing natural insect-reppelence.

While P. muticum has demonstrated potential medicinal benefits, caution is advised due to the presence of pulegone, a compound that can be toxic in high doses. The FDA regulates synthetic pulegone use, and its safety profile necessitates careful consideration in medicinal applications.

Preparation:

  • Salves and Infused Oils: Combining the plant's extracts with carriers like beeswax or oils for external application.

Parts Used:

  • Pulegone: Known for its insect-repellent qualities.
  • Menthone and Menthol: Contribute to the plant's characteristic minty aroma and have been associated with analgesic and antiseptic properties.
  • Limonene: Offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

Medicinal Considerations

  • Pregnancy: Due to the presence of pulegone, which can be harmful in large amounts, it's recommended that pregnant women avoid using this plant medicinally.
  • Dosage: Excessive consumption can lead to adverse effects; moderation is key.
  • Allergies: Individuals with sensitivities to mint family plants should exercise caution.

Research References:

Recent scientific research has explored the phytochemical composition and potential medicinal applications of P. muticum:


Essential Oil Composition: A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry analyzed the essential oil of P. muticum, identifying compounds such as pulegone, menthone, and limonene. These constituents are known for their aromatic properties and potential therapeutic effects.


Antimicrobial Activity: The same study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of P. muticum essential oil, finding it exhibited activity against certain bacterial strains, suggesting potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.

Aroma Profile Characterization: Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry identified 42 odorant compounds in P. muticum, including pulegone, menthofuran, and 1,8-cineole. These compounds contribute to the plant's distinctive minty aroma and may have applications in flavoring and fragrance industries. ResearchGate+2PubMed+2ophcj.nuph.edu.ua+2

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