Pycnanthemum Muticum 'Mountain Mint'

Trial: Perennial

Years Trialed: 2000, 2001

Good Qualities

Year 1

Great foliage fragrance (4); Usable at many stages of development, vigorous; These looked dead when they arrived but we planted anyway. We had a terrible summer with no sign of any plants. This fall we've had a lot of moisture, cooler temps and when observed November 10th, 15% of the plants were alive. We expect next year they will take off and fill the bed. The 15% we have currently look very good. I think this will be a good plant; I like that it grows quickly and establishes itself even in less than perfect conditions; Very vigorous.

Year 2

Very vigorous, nice fragrance, long harvest period; Nice minty fragrance, nice light green filler; This one came back to life, we have 5 plants alive and its 36; tall, we did not cut any of it so it would become better established but it will be nice; This one looks like it should work, smells good, tall strong stems, green color.


Problems

Year 1

Weak, sprawling stems; Prostate growth habit ' poor cut quality.

Year 2

Flowers turn brown rapidly, never looks ready to cut.


Comments

Year 1

Several plants did not flower; Need to grow 1 more year, to see what to do with this plant; We used strictly as fresh and it makes an excellent filler.

Year 2

Good new foliage/filler; Perhaps attempt to market as green without flower.



Trial Data

Year 2

Pycnanthemum muticum 'Mountain Mint'
Yield (stems/plant)¹ Stem Length (inches)¹ Market Appreciation Rating² Repeat Again Rating² Ease of Cultivation Rating² Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 100 11.8 37.3 2.5 4.0 3.5 3.7 4.7
Range of Responses 100-0 8-18 30-42 1-4 4-0 3-4 2-5 4-5
Pycnanthemum muticum 'Mountain Mint'
Yield (stems/plant)¹ Stem Length (inches)¹ Market Appreciation Rating² Repeat Again Rating² Ease of Cultivation Rating² Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 100 11.8 37.3 2.5 4.0 3.5 3.7 4.7
Range of Responses 100-0 8-18 30-42 1-4 4-0 3-4 2-5 4-5


¹Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.

²1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.


Supplier

Cramers' Posie Patch 116 Trial Rd. N. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 717-367-9494 FAX 717-367-8666