Coyote mint, or mountain mint, is a popular drought-tolerant native pollinator plant.  A member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, coyote mint’s leaves have a sweet, minty smell, especially on warm summer days.

Other common names include mountain beebalm, western pennyroyal, mountain monardella, and desert mint. Coyote mint is a low-growing perennial and unlike spearmint and peppermint, coyote mint is not rhizomatous and will not aggressively spread in the garden. In the wild coyote mint grows on rock outcrops, talus slopes, and other locations with sharp drainage and full sun. It does best in a sunny location on well-drained soil with low summer watering. Grows 1ft tall and up to 2 ft wide. 

Water Use: Light, little to no summer water

Light Requirement: Sun to part shade

Soil Moisture: Dry

Soil type: Sand, loam

Soil pH: 6-9

Drought Tolerance: High

Perennial

Special attributes: Larval host for moths and butterflies, attracts beneficial insects, bumble bee plant, and deer resistant.Coyote mint is highly attractive to a wide diversity of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and pollinating flies.