Herbal products with an estimated global market of $10.7 Billion in 2023 continue to gain popularity as health supplements. A lack of adapted, high yielding varieties, and production technology are major limiting factors for commercial production of ready-market herbs. The objective of this research was to address these limitations, and in the process develop production practices for a high-value multiple use herb, Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) that can be easily grown in North Alabama, USA. Mountain mint is used in the medicinal and confectionery industries and could serve as an alternative to pepper mint. Four Virginia mountain mint varieties were evaluated for growth and essential oil content and composition using replicated field trials. The greenhouse-grown plants of the four varieties, (M1, M2, M3 and M4) were transplanted onto raised beds, covered with plastic mulch with drip irrigation tubing underneath in mid-May, and grown using organic production methods. The crops were harvested at 135 (H1), 155 (H2), and 170 (H3) days after planting (DAP) to determine growth, biomass, essential oil yield, and composition. The chemical compositions of essential oils were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Two of the four mountain mint varieties with high biomass showed consistently high yield potential in North Alabama. They were rich in isomenthone concentrations, which increased dramatically from 20% to 69% as the season advanced, whereas pulegone and thymol tended to decrease. The essential oil components varied with varieties and with time. The two mountain varieties with desirable essential oil composition offer potential for production as high-value medicinal crop in North Alabama.
