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Butterfly Garden

Pycnanthemum muticum (broad leaved mint). Add to garden?

16 years ago

I'm going through my list of what to order from the local Audubon's plant sale catalogue, and I'm trying to decide on whether to keep Pycnanthemum muticum (broad leaved mint) on my list. Will this mint get too aggressive in the garden? How does it compare as a nectar plant to Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) or Lobelia siphilitica (blue cardinal flower) ?

Thanks. -- Lori

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Comments (3)

lepalot
16 years ago
Lori,
I have grown Pycnanthemum muticum for many years and it is an excellent butterfly nectar source, especially for the smaller butterflies like Hairstreaks and Blues. It does not do as well as Swamp Milkweed but does much better than the Blue Lobelia. It does spread by runners but is not as aggressive as others in the mint family, especially Peppermint. It is definitely a keeper in my butterfly garden.
butterflyman
16 years ago
Also try Pycnanthemum tenuifolium - Slender Mountain Mint.
It blooms non-stop over most of the summer and is a great nectar source for the smaller butterflies. It's only minimally aggressive. Cut out parts each year to give to friends.

I've tried Blue Lobelia and was not happy with it - no butterflies and it reseeds everywhere.
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Thanks maifleur. It's a good reminder to be careful of common names. The Ladybird Johnson site has broad leaved mint listed as at least in the mint family. I think based on some feedback on the Butterfly Gardening Forum, I will try broad leaved mint or Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender mountain mint) which somebody there recommended. I think I actually like the look of that better, but broad leaved mint seems to be native to conditions similar to my yard's. -- Lori
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loris
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks lepalot and butterflyman. My garden in terms of butterfly plants doesn't compare to some of the pictures I've seen people on this forum post, so maybe that's why I think of blue cardinal flower as so much better than your experiences with it. So far I've really liked it.

You have helped me make up my mind to try at least one of the mountain mints. They're both listed in the catalogue.

-- Lori

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