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.