Mountain Mint – Perennial of the Year 2025
Photo: Fritz Flohr Reynolds (Visual Hunt)
The Perennial of the Year for 2025, selected by the Perennial Plant Association is Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum).
Since 1990, the Perennial Plant Association has selected one perennial per year that has exhibited exemplary qualities throughout the United States. Previous years selections have included Phlox ‘Jeana’ and Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’.
The Association’s selections are based on the following criteria:
Suitability for a wide range of climatic conditions
Low-maintenance requirements
Relative pest- and disease-resistance
Ready availability in the year of promotion
Multiple seasons of ornamental interest
Mountain Mint is a top pollinator plant with many attractive qualities including gray-green minty fragrant foliage and small white or pink flowers in summer. Dried seed heads add interest to the winter garden. In addition, Mountain Mint has culinary and medicinal benefits. The leaves can be used to brew tea and used in salads.
This is an easy-to-grow plant that is not particular to soil types and performs well in either full sun or partial shade. It grows 2-3 feet tall and will spread a little, but it is not aggressive like true mints.
Look for this perennial in our Sun Perennials section in the greenhouse.
Mountain Mint growing at the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, Chicago. (Photo: Cultivar 413, Visual Hunt)
