Some times, I’ll just by a native plant for shits and giggles.

No prior research conducted.

No particular available space in the garden for it.

Some times, it is all in the name … like hoary mountain mint:

I had no idea what this perennial would look like in bloom or even what its ultimate size would be when I purchased a few at a local native plant sale. I was just intrigued by the name and in a mood to experiment.

It has been three years since that purchase and the jury is still out on this plant.

Before we get to my personal experience, some quick tidbits on the hoary mountain mint that I’ve discovered on the ‘net:

• Is native to the dry woods of the Eastern U.S.
• Size is roughly 3′ x 4′
• Blooms from July to September
• Survives in zones 4-8
• Prefers full sun
• Can be an aggressive spreader through rhizomes
• Leaves are fragrant when crushed (spearmint) and has been used to flavor teas
• Native Americans inhaled their vapors before entering sweat lodges (I have to try that)       

For me, it bloomed sporadically for the first time last year in a spot that only received afternoon sun and it didn’t grow taller than a foot or so.

But this year, they were relocated to a full sun spot and “shocker” have performed well.

The blooms first appeared in early June:

      
And were eventually in full bloom by the last week of June:

On the plus side, the foliage of this plant has an interesting airy quality which contrasts well with larger leaved plants.

It also draws in the bees like mad as there is always something going on with these natives:

But, on the downside, the two plants I have collapsed once in full bloom and I wonder if my soil has something to do with that:

From what I have now learned, post purchase, is that these plants prefer a lean sandy soil and that is the exact opposite of my soil conditions. Or maybe it was simply one of the powerful rains that kicked their ass. Who knows?

But I’m not ready to give up on them yet by any means. There is a lot more experimenting to do. 


I dig how the spent blooms look in the fall/winter, and anything that provides a level of winter interest deserves a stay of execution: 

Anyone else grow this? Would love to hear your thoughts.

John

• The grasses are all at a substantial size 
• The fall blooming perennials are just starting to reveal their buds 
• The summer blooming perennials keep on keeping on 
• The deciduous shrubs are still holding on to their foliage color before the inevitable late summer decline. 

Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and Ninebark ‘Summer Wine’

Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’, Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’, Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ and Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’.

Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’, Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ and assorted others

Panicum ‘Northwind’, Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Northern Sea Oats, Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ and Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’

More of the same

Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’, Joe Pye Weed ‘Gateway’ and Panicum ‘Northwind’

Joe Pye Weed ‘Gateway’ and Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’

Viburnum ‘Aurora’, Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ and Althea ‘Lavender Chiffon’

Purple Coneflowers, Achillea ‘Moonwalker’ and Sedum (cultivar unknown)

Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’, Purple Coneflowers and Russian Sage

Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Achillea ‘Moonwalker’, Sorghastrum ‘Sioux Blue’, Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’, Purple Coneflowers and Russian Sage

Good times indeed.

John

And confirming my ornamental grass obsession.

1)Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’ peaking out from behind the hydrangea.
2)Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’ in bloom in back right.
3)Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ the monster in the back left:

Ciao

John

Just wanted to prove that I am capable of taking a non close-up photo in the garden:

Note to self: Kale (Lacinato Hybrid) has a fantastic foliage color and while it tastes fantastic, it would be a phenawesome (I’ve copyrighted this word by the way) landscape plant as well:

Good looking Spirea right there:

Reason #187 to love a Viburnum: The berries extend the interest throughout the summer:

I bought this Salix (Dappled willow) ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ back in the spring and it has friggin EXPLODED in size. I am absolutely in lust with this shrub and would buy a bunch more if the deer wouldn’t destroy it. Luckily, this one is tucked safely away:

Can never get enough:

Isn’t that a cool pattern in the leaf? It’s like that all over both of my Hibiscus plants. Everyone should be as lucky as me to be able to witness such fine artwork. What a joy and pleasure defoliated leaves are:  

And finally, this Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock) ‘Moon Frost’ has become a favorite already with it’s white growing tips. Just enough to make this stand out from other evergreens. I can’t wait to see how this develops over the years:

John

The seed heads on Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) are just starting to appear. While the seedlings of this ornamental grass are popping up all over my gardens, it’s still worth it when the seed heads are back lit later in the season:  

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) is just starting to bloom a bit and the anticipation of it being in full bloom is killing me:  

For now, it is the ultimate “see through” plant; seen here with Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) in the background:

Speaking of purple coneflowers, here are some more; true sign summer has arrived:

Even popping up mysteriously underneath Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’:

Echinacea ‘Fragrant Angel’, nice to see you back again:

I’m going to call Pycnanthemum incanum (Mountain Mint) one of my most underrated perennials. This native plant is the ultimate companion plant as it lends an “airiness” to the garden and pulls in all sorts of awesome creatures from butterflies to wasps:

While not yet in bloom, I am still celebrating the buds that have appeared on Daylily ‘Little Grapette’. I’ve been religiously spraying these with Liquid Fence to fend off the deer and so far so good:

I love these blooms but have only managed to see maybe two to three of these the past two years thanks to the friggin deer. After a few divisions along the way, I’ve got ten of these puppies ready to go. Ain’t the bloom nice?: