SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
COMMON NAMES: Slender Mountain Mint, Slender-leaved Mountain Mint, Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
BLOOM TIME: June, July, Aug, Sept
PLANT PROFILE:
- Plant height 1-3 ft. tall.
- Hairless pointed leaves 2 in. long x ΒΌ in. wide.
- Foliage has a mild minty scent & stronger mint taste.
- Plant has a delicate, airy appearance, & small white flowers bunching at the top.
- More common in mid to southern Illinois.
- Habitat: open woods, prairies, & pastures.
- Native Americans used to bait mink traps with it.
- They also made a tea to treat run down conditions & for seasoning in cooking.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds.
- Mammals usually don't browse on this plant because of the minty taste.
- Flowers are very attractive to many kinds of insects.