At the latest symposium of the renowned Perennial Plant Association (PPA), members honored the elegant mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) as Perennial of the Year 2025. It’s not without a shiver of chauvinism that we welcomed this happy news, as we’ve been growing it for some years now in our respective gardens. As horticulturists, we can confirm that this title is well deserved.

Mountain Mint
From the same family as mint (Lamiaceae), Pycnanthemum muticum is nicknamed “mountain mint”, no doubt due to the strong menthol fragrance of its dense foliage. From July onwards, the plant begins to bloom, a process that continues until late September. Inflorescences of tiny, nectar-rich, tubular pink flowers are surrounded by sublime, silvery-gray bracts. A must for a multitude of pollinators who will visit it throughout the season.
This perennial is hardy in our cold region and will form a pretty bed without being invasive. It can even be used for revitalization. Placed in rich, well-drained soil, Pycnanthemum muticum is very easy to care for and can be grown in both sunny and semi-shady positions. It can grow up to a metre in height and is highly resistant to disease and insect pests. It is also resistant to deer and hares.

We wholeheartedly recommend this perennial, which will fit in perfectly with your flower beds, where the silvery sheen of its bracts will enhance the bright colors of the other plants. And that’s without mentioning its fragrance, which perfumes the air with its scent, making pollinators dance to its rich nectar.
I grew it this year, purchased from my favourite local nursery, and absolutely love it – in the garden, as a pollinator plant, and as a cut flower. I’m considering planting my boulevard in spring, which is restricted to all natives. There are several types of mountain mint, pictured is the one I love, blunt mountain mint (muticum). Seeds for thin leaf and Virginia mountain mint are easier to find through native plant societies. I collected seed from my own plant and I bought seed from Prairie Moon, which ships from Minnesota to Canada. Just arrived yesterday, so we’ll see about germination. My understanding is surface sown warm moist stratification for 60+ days, depending on the age of the seed.
Any thoughts on where I can order seed? Growing conditions? Zone? Good for cooking? Promising introduction but missing details. Thanks.
I’m a little confused. I thought mint was invasive and never to be grown outside of a container with no opening below. Is this mint so different from the mint i’ve been warned against?
You are thinking of the the European mint or peppermint which I grow and it can become very invasive. I keep it in a contained area and harvest it almost to death to stop its spread. The one featured is native and non invasive. Its from the mint family not the invasive European mint. The featured mint Pycnanthemum muticum I have grown it in my garden and it disappeared as I have added more trees and shrubs. I am thinking of purchasing for my now native garden.
We have had Mountain Mint for years and we LOVE it! It’s beautiful, attracts multitudes of pollinators, is never browsed by our prolific deer and stays in its bed. We’ve never watered or fertilized or divided it. It’s amazing!
It’s good to hear some additional positive news about this plant. I saw it in a garden here where I live. The landscaper who designed the garden uses mostly all native plants. I have planted one very small starter plant this spring and it has done well thus far. I hope to see some spreading and flowers this coming spring/summer.