Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Walter) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenburg. Common name: Savanna Mint, Savanna Mountain-mint. Phenology: Jun-Sep; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Moist to wet pine savannas, pine flatwoods, pocosin margins, mountain bogs, seepage areas on low elevation granite domes. Distribution: Se. VA south to ne. FL, west to Panhandle FL and s. MS (Sorrie & LeBlond 2008) on the Coastal Plain; disjunct inland in bogs and rock outcrops of sw. NC with Coastal Plain affinities, and in sc. TN.
ID notes: Sometimes mistaken in vegetative condition for Eupatorium leucolepis, P. flexuosum can be distinguished by its square stem and aromatic odor.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: A diploid species (n = 18). Koellia hugeri Small, alleged to differ details of the calyx, was established for the plants of bogs of the Blue Ridge; it apparently is not morphologically segregated from other variation within the species (Grant & Epling 1943).
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl6, K4, RAB, Va, W, WH3, Chambers & Hamer (1992); = Pycnanthemum hyssopifolium Benth. — G, GW2, Grant & Epling (1943); > Koellia hugeri Small — S; > Koellia hyssopifolia (Benth.) Britton — S; Origanum flexuosum Walter. Basionym: Origanum flexuosum Walter 1788
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of moist to wet pine savannas, pocosin margins, mountain bogs and seepage areas on low-elevation granite domes.
Stems: Stems 4-angled, branched (ascending) above, covered with white hairs.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, with 3-5 pairs of parallel veins starting at or below middle of blade, sometimes with a few marginal teeth, smooth or hairy on veins beneath and with a faint mint-like odor.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in flattened-round terminal and axillary heads with a bristly appearance; each flower white and purple-spotted, to ¼ in. long, tubular and opening to 2 spreading lips. The tubular calyx has 5 lobes with needlelike, long white tips.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 1-3 1/2 ft.
plant sale text: Appalachian Mountainmint tends to be more compact than most members of the Pycnanthemum genus. This is an easy-to-grow southeastern native perennial with delightfully scented foliage that is not normally eaten by deer. It produces small white flowers over its handsome green foliage, and attracts many beneficial pollinators. Appalachian Mountainmint tends to spread moderately over time, once the plant is established. While moderately vigorous, it does grow well with other species. The leaves of this species provide food for caterpillars of the Gray Hairstreak butterfly.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of moist to wet pine savannas, pocosin margins, mountain bogs and seepage areas on low-elevation granite domes.
stems: Stems 4-angled, branched (ascending) above, covered with white hairs.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, with 3-5 pairs of parallel veins starting at or below middle of blade, sometimes with a few marginal teeth, smooth or hairy on veins beneath and with a faint mint-like odor.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in flattened-round terminal and axillary heads with a bristly appearance; each flower white and purple-spotted, to ¼ in. long, tubular and opening to 2 spreading lips. The tubular calyx has 5 lobes with needlelike, long white tips.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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