Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Common Mountain Mint
(Virginia Mountainmint)
Pycnanthemum virginianum
[C-value
5]
Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Blooms July -
September
The native Common Mountain Mint is common in our area. The name 'Mountain Mint' is a misnomer as this plant does not occur in mountainous habitats. It prefers full or partial sun, and moist to average conditions. Habitats include moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, moist meadows in woodland areas, fens and swamps. This perennial is up to 3' tall and branching frequently, often with a bushy appearance. The reddish stems are square with white hairs. The opposite leaves are up to 2½" long and narrowly lance-shaped. Numerous flattened heads of small white flowers occur at the ends of the upper stems, up to ¾" across with up to 50 flowers. a few blooming at the same time. Each tubular flower is about 1/8" long and 2-lipped.
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Common Mountain Mint at Blackberry Trail Forest Preserve August 12, 2015
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Common Mountain Mint at Millbrook South Forest Preserve July 12, 2015
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Common Mountain Mint at Oswego Pres. Church Monarch Waystation July 8, 2017
Common Mountain Mint at Richard Young Forest Preserve September 16, 2014
Common Mountain Mint mature seed heads at Hoover Forest Preserve October 29, 2014
Common Mountain Mint is similar in appearance to Slender Mountain Mint. It can be distinguished from the latter species by the white hairs along the ridges of its stems, and the occurrence of leaves greater than ¼" across.
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