2025 PPA Perennial Plant of the Year – Showy Clustered Mountain Mint

(Pycnanthemum muticum)

The Perennial Plant Association*, a professional association composed of growers, garden retailers, landscape designers and horticultural educators, has selected Showy Clustered Mountain Mint as the 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year. Due to the collective expertise of the professionals voting for this designation, we have high regard for this title and are pleased to share information about this year’s award winner.

As with last years’ selection, Pycnanthemum was selected for its extraordinary appeal to pollinators. It is a North American native that bears clusters of tiny palest pink flowers mid-summer through fall. There are several native Mountain Mints, but none are as ornamental as P. muticum. The flowers themselves are not impressive to look at but they are surrounded by large, showy, silvery bracts that are very attractive. Pollinators will gather in great numbers on the flowers for many weeks in summer. The pleasant, mild, minty fragrance of the foliage makes it unappealing to browsing by deer and rabbits. Due to its tendency to spread by rhizomes, this plant is a perfect choice for naturalized gardens where it can be allowed to weave through its neighbors. It pairs especially well with plants such as Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Black-Eyed-Susan (Rudbeckia), Blazing Star (Liatris), Ironweed (Vernonia), and Ornamental Grasses.

Pycnanthemum muticum in a Nutshell:

• Mature height: 2′ to 3′
• Mature spread: 2′ to 3′, colonizing
• Growth form: Upright habit. Relatively compact form. Spreads by rhizomes, enthusiastically but not aggressively
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
• Flowers: Showy silvery bracts surround clusters of tiny pale pink flowers
• Foliage: Foliage is similar in appearance to Monarda and has a pleasant, subtly minty fragrance
• Light requirement: Full Sun to Light Shade
• Water Requirements: Medium, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Will increase more rapidly in moist soil
• Maintenance: Best to plant in a site where it can be allowed to weave through neighboring plants. If you desire to keep in more contained, regular division may be required
• Especially valuable for:

 Pollinator Magnet!
 North American Native
 Excellent for drying
 Deer & rabbit resistance
 Pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, cutting gardens & naturalized areas

*Each year the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) designates one perennial as the “Perennial Plant of the Year”. Selection is based on multiple seasons of interest, suitability for a wide range of climates, low maintenance, pest & disease resistance, and ease of propagation. If you want to create an attractive, long blooming garden of reliable perennials the PPA’s list of Past Winners is an excellent starting point. With very few exceptions these are outstanding garden plants.

By Zannah Crowe