Slender Mountain Mint offers a delicate, airy texture that brings a sense of refined elegance to the native prairie garden. Characterized by its exceptionally narrow, needle-like leaves and many-branched stems, this species forms a bushy mound typically 2 to 3 feet tall. From June through September, the plant is topped with numerous small, snowy white flower clusters that seem to float above the fine foliage. It is native to much of the central and eastern United States, where it is frequently found in upland prairies, rocky open woods, and fields. Like its cousins, it is a magnet for a diverse range of pollinators, particularly small bees and butterflies. Slender Mountain Mint is highly adaptable, thriving in full to partial sun and tolerating a wide range of soil conditions from medium-wet to medium-dry. Its minty fragrance is a delightful bonus for gardeners but acts as a natural deterrent for deer and rabbits. This plant is an excellent choice for adding fine-textured structure to a meadow planting or as a reliable, low-maintenance filler in a formal perennial border.

Quick facts

• Height: 2–3 ft
• Sun: Full to Partial
• Soil moisture: Medium-Wet to Medium-Dry
• Bloom time: Jun–Sep (White)
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Notes: Aromatic, Rhizomatous
• Native range: Native to 36 states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska

See the full growing guide and county range map for Slender Mountain Mint