Hairy Mountain Mint is a hardy North American perennial herb in the mint family, valued for its aromatic foliage and clouds of small pale flowers that attract pollinators. Despite the name, it isn’t a true mint used in cooking as often as culinary mints, but it’s excellent for wildlife gardens and naturalistic planting.
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Exposure: Tolerates open, breezy sites once established; moderately wind tolerant but not particularly suited to harsh coastal exposure (not reliably coastal tolerant).
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Size: Typically 60–90 cm tall and about 45–60 cm wide, forming loose clumps that can slowly spread.
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Soil: Adaptable; prefers well-drained soils but tolerates average garden soil, including clay or rocky ground.
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Sun: Full sun to light partial shade.
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Flowering Time: Mid to late summer (roughly July–September).
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Uses: Occasionally used in herbal traditions and sometimes brewed as a mild aromatic tea; mainly grown as an ornamental and pollinator plant.
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Wildlife Benefits: Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects; the dense flowers provide an important nectar source in summer.
