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#6751
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MINT
Pycnanthemum x incanum
PPAF Plant propagation prohibited
Hardiness Zone: 4-7 · Mature Height: 1-2 Feet · Mature Spread: 2-4 Feet
Say hello to Smokey Mountain Mint—a hybrid with serious personality. At first glance, its foliage steals the show: a silvery cast dusts the leaf surfaces, while hints of muted purple appear near the stems. As the season progresses, bractlike leaves encircle clusters of delicate white and lavender-spotted flowers atop tall, square mint stems. The contrast is painterly—silver, green, purple, and soft floral tones all in one living sketch.
But this mint does more than look good. It's built for performance. With a robust rhizomatous habit, it spreads with vigor (in a good way) but avoids the worst of mint invasiveness. It tolerates a wide variety of soils—as long as they don't stay soggy—and handles heat, drought, and even erosion-prone slopes with aplomb. Pollinators adore it: bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects swarm to feed on the nectar-rich blooms. Deer and rabbits usually steer clear, making it a low‑conflict garden hero.
What truly sets Smokey Mountain Mint apart is its longevity in the garden. From midsummer through frost, you'll enjoy its fragrance, its airy flower umbels, and the shifting tapestry of its foliage hues. Use it in mass plantings, meadow beds, along pathways or edges—or even as a fragrant backdrop in mixed perennials. Whether your focus is aesthetics or ecosystem function, this mint delivers in spades.
Family: Lamiaceae · Common Name: Smokey Mountain Mint
FREE with every plant purchased:
- The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here!
- A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
- Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
- Planting and Care Instruction brochure.
- Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as Garden Debut® and Proven Winners®.
We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies.
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MINT Plant Characteristics
Flower Color*
| • | Light Blue |
Growth Rate*
| • | Medium |
Leaf Color Fall*
| • | Green |
Leaf Color Spring*
| • | Green |
Leaf Color Summer*
| • | Green |
Plant Type*
| • | Shrub |
Preferred Soil Conditions*
| • | Average |
| • | Drought Tolerant |
| • | Low Water Use |
| • | Prefers Dry Soils |
| • | Well-Drained |
0 review(s) for SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MINT
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MINT Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips
- Recommended Soil:
- Prefers well‑drained to moderately dry soils; avoid heavy, wet, or waterlogged ground.
- Gritty or loamy mixes with good drainage are ideal.
- Tolerates average fertility — overly rich soil may reduce bloom-to-foliage ratio.
- Sun Exposure:
- Full sun brings best blooms and foliage color.
- In very hot or arid zones, light afternoon shade helps prevent stress.
- Partial shade acceptable, but expect lighter flowering.
- Irrigation Needs:
- Moderate watering while establishing.
- Once mature, drought-tolerant — water deeply but infrequently.
- Let topsoil dry somewhat between waterings; avoid consistently soggy conditions.
- Feeding & Nutrients:
- Minimal feeding needed; a light application of balanced fertilizer in early season is enough.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilization, which can favor foliage at the expense of blooms.
- Compost or slow‑release organic amendments work well if soil is especially lean.
- Pruning & Maintenance:
- Deadhead spent blooms to refresh appearance and encourage extended flowering. Cut back tall stems mid to late season to maintain shape.
- In late fall, trim to near ground level in colder zones.
- To restrain spreading, use root barriers or trim rhizome roots periodically.
Interesting Notes About SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MINT
- Smoky Silk & Purple Hints: The foliage starts as silvery-green and gradually reveals subtle purple tones near stems and new growth — like a misty mountain sunrise.
- Floral Bract Parade: What look like extra leaves around the flower clusters are bracts — decorative chaplets that accentuate the blooms and catch the light.
- Minty Perfume on Demand: All parts exude a gentle mint fragrance when crushed — gardeners have used its scent to freshen tea blends.
- Pollinator Party Central: From July into frost, this mint becomes a nectar hotspot — attracting bees, butterflies, wasps, and beneficial insects by the dozens.
- Rhizome, But Refined: Unlike aggressive garden mints, this hybrid shows strong rhizomatous growth but with a more controlled and ornamental habit — it spreads, but thoughtfully.
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