2025 Perennial of the Year: Mountain Mint

2025’s selection is a native plant to meadows and woodlands of North America, Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). It is not part of the mint family but has similarly scented leaves, often making it unpleasant to deer and rabbits. It spreads by underground rhizomes and can be aggressive in wet conditions – but not to the degree of invasiveness for the true mint plant.  Well drained soils are the answer.

It’s a tough and adaptable plant, enjoying a sun to part shade environment. It’s a good add to a pollinator garden with its white to pink blooms, attracting those busy butterfly, wasp and bee friends to the garden from July right through the fall. Colour is maintained on top of the 24 – 36 inch (60 cm – 90 cm) stems due to the silvery bracts.

You might want to plant mountain mint with other pollinator friendly and/or native plants, especially those with darker foliage or contrasting bloom colours e.g. bee balm, cone flowers, black-eyed susan, gayfeather (liatris), Joe pye weed etc.