Plant · GBIF taxon 2927347
narrowleaf mountainmint
Pycnanthemum tenuifoliumAlso known as Slender Mountainmint, Common Horsemint, Virginia Thyme
Narrowleaf mountainmint forms fine-textured, bushy clumps of needle-like foliage topped with flat clusters of tiny, pink-spotted white blossoms from mid to late summer. Crushing the slender leaves releases a potent, clean scent reminiscent of spearmint and thyme. The plant plays a vital ecological role as one of North America's premier nectar sources, attracting scores of native bees, beneficial wasps, and butterflies.
AromaticPollinator MagnetPerennial
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Herbivorous insects
- Grasshoppers
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive plant competition
HabitatsDry open woods, prairies, fields, pastures, rocky slopes, roadside banks
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years via creeping rhizomes)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyLamiaceae
- GenusPycnanthemum
- SpeciesPycnanthemum tenuifolium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scent Test: Gently crush a leaf between your fingers to release a strong, fresh mint aroma.
- Pollinator Watching: Visit sunny stands in midsummer to spot dozens of native bee and wasp species.
- Garden Planting: Add to sunny meadow gardens to support local beneficial insects.
Pollinator Companion (c) tzeducation, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by tzeducation · cc-by
Frequent Visitor Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Mirko Schoenitz · cc0
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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