Slender Mountain-mint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score: 2
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: SE
CEC Eco-Regions: 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
Rarity Notes: Ranked S1 (Critically Imperiled) in Quebec with only 2 herbarium specimens from Dundee (1984) and S3 (Vulnerable) in Ontario. Nationally ranked N3 in Canada. Not SARA-listed. In Ottawa, listed as Rare and possibly native in South Gloucester, with native populations of Provincial Conservation Concern.
S22+S54+S26+S62
Rarity Ranks: QC S1 – Critically Imperiled, ON S3 – Vulnerable
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Inhabits upland prairies, dry rocky open woods, pine barrens, and old fields on sandy to loamy soils. In Michigan, found in sandy fields, moist meadows, wet prairies, and grassy clearings. Reaches its northern range limit in the Ottawa Valley region where it is critically imperiled in Quebec (S1) and vulnerable in Ontario (S3). A clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial of open, often disturbed habitats.
S4+S7+S22

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Category: Analgesic, Febrifuge, Digestive aid
S61 Cherokee used for headache, fever, upset stomach
Notes: The Cherokee used the leaves as a poultice to treat headache, and internally to treat colds, fever, and upset stomach. No records found in Moerman NAEB database or Health Canada NHPID, suggesting use was localized to specific Indigenous communities.
S61+S28+S36

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Dried leaves used as flavoring and in teas. Xerces notes foliage is edible. Leaves have a minty aroma and can be used fresh or dried as a culinary herb substitute for commercial mint species.
S4+S64