Narrowleaf Mountainmint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) is in the Mint Family family (Lamiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 926 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Narrowleaf Mountainmint: observations by month (U.S.)
About Narrowleaf Mountainmint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, the narrowleaf mountainmint, slender mountainmint, common horsemint or Virginia thyme, is a plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to eastern North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Narrowleaf Mountainmint by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 164 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 98 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 95 | June | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 95 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 77 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Virginia | 52 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 46 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 46 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 35 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 27 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New York | 21 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 15 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 15 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Ohio | 15 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 15 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 13 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 11 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 9 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Iowa | 8 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 7 | June | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 6 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kansas | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mint Family)
Red Deadnettle
Common Selfheal
Ground-Ivy
Henbit Deadnettle
Wild Bergamot
Lyreleaf Sage
Chia
American germander
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Narrowleaf Mountainmint?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Narrowleaf Mountainmint most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas.