Clustered mountainmint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is a North American native and a total pollinator magnet, particularly when massed together in a sunny spot. It has special value to native, bumble, and honey bees, and supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden. P. muticum also attracts butterflies and is a nectar source for Monarchs and other butterflies. Birds and other wildlife enjoy its seeds. P. muticum is an important addition to the garden for those interested in creating bee and butterfly gardens.

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The Blunt or Clustered or Short-toothed Mountain-Mint has a native range from southwest Maine to central Florida to east Texas through Arkansas into lower Michigan and northeast Ohio in upland meadows and open woods. The scientific name of the generic word comes from Greek of "pyknos" = dense and "anthos" means flower and "muticum" in Latin means blunt. This species has broad, rounded leaves with short teeth along the margins. The bracts and very upper leaves right below the white or pinkish mint-like flowers are covered with a silvery bloom. The flowers bloom about 6 weeks during which time they attract a lot of different pollinating insects. The crushed leaves have a minty fragrance. The plant contains pulegone that is a natural mosquito repelling compound that one can apply by rubbing leaves on skin. It is very deer and rabbit resistant. It spreads by rhizomes (underground root-like stems) to form a colony. It can easily be divided for propagation. It is an easy, reliable perennial. This more showy species is sold by a good number of native plant nurseries as North Creek in southeast PA. I've found that the cut flower-seed head stems make a good dry flower display.

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