Grow this plant! 🌿 Here's why

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If you've ever seen blunt mountain mint aka clustered mountain mint in a garden, you probably already know you love it, but if it's new to you you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well I'm here to tell you. And it's not just me who thinks so, because the Perennial Plant Association has named it its Perennial Plant of the Year for 2025.
But never fear because Pycnanthemum muticum is not a true mint (mentha). Yes it's in the mint family, and yes it will bulk up by rhizomes but I promise it won't take over like mint will if you plant it in the ground. Give this some room to grow when you plant it (this is one plant where it probably makes sense to pay attention to spacing guidelines) and if you don't want it to grow any farther, use your spade to cut those rhizomes. That and cutting it back in spring are the only things you ever need to do to this plant, so it's about as low maintenance as it gets. It's also manna from heaven for pollinators, great in bouquets and the perfect backup singer to so many flashier plants in the garden.
#plantoftheyear #pollinatorgarden
-------- L I N K S --------
Perennial Plant Association Plant of the year:
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Past Perennial Plant of the Year winners (I know you'll recognize many of these):
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--------- A B O U T -----------
My name is Erin and I love sharing inspiration and information with real-life gardeners. I live and garden in southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5b/6a.
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Опубликовано:

15 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 115

@AumsAcre 11 дней назад

It will spread, not overly agressive, but it will spread. Much easier to pull. An absolute pollinator magnet.

@JennJenn9 11 дней назад

I love all the critters on my Mt Mint - especially that beautiful blue-winged wasp (sphex pensylvanicus) - sommuch fun to watch the buggy 🐝🐞🦋party

@taylorswf23 11 дней назад

I’m staring at it right now- absolutely buzzing with a huge variety of pollinators, including a lot of “weird” wasps. I LOVE having my bench and table set nearby. It’s also valuable in teaching curious toddlers to observe, and not touch, bees 😊

@janetneill2660 10 дней назад

I discovered this plant at a nursery, not really knowing anything about it, I was attracted to the beautiful color, and that mint scent is absolutely heavenly! I read the tag, and it said it wasn't invasive like regular mint, so I took a chance and never looked back. It's beautiful, pollinators love it! This summer, we got pretty hot, and it dried out a bit and looked super sad, but hydrated and bounced back without missing a beat! Love this plant.

@snu3877 3 дня назад

And not a single pest, really.

@amerwine 11 дней назад

Great video! I have a large area with mountain mint and blue mist flower. This time of the year it’s my favorite area of my garden. Pollinators love it.

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

What a great combo!

@snu3877 3 дня назад

I have both of those too! The blue mist flower has spread more than the mountain mint. I really appreciate it this time of year. Those two, plus goldenrod and obedient plant, are so pretty right now.

@Betsy277 11 дней назад

I saw this on Y gardens channel last year and liked it so I ordered seed, and winter sowed it. I planted it out, and I love it. It hasn’t flowered yet but the foliage is wonderful. The deer, rabbits, and squirrels have totally ignored it! I’ve since started a flat of it that the seeds just germinated. It’s planted in clay that I amended and so far, it seems happy. It’s also in full sun and this summer was very hot and drought. It got watered but wasn’t demanding about it. Great plant!

@bonniejackson7476 10 дней назад

Where did you find seed? Thanks

@lgarden7086 10 дней назад

I was in our community garden and was looking at all of the beautiful pollinator plants that were recently planted to enhance the vegetable garden and beehives when I spotted the mt mint. I wondered what it was, and ended up having a conversation about it with one of the other volunteers that worked specifically on the native plants. She pulled out a sprig of it for me and I brought it home and it came back the next spring beautifully in my garden. I was a little concerned it being “mint” but I placed it in between two small rose bushes (we have rabbits and deer) so I was thinking the mint might fill in between and protect the roses a bit. I love the look of the plant and I think the next time I see it spreading a bit I’ll plant more to another part of my garden…maybe to my vegetable garden to draw in more pollinators. I plant nasturtiums, and marigold each year and have borage, but you have to love a perennial that keeps on giving.

@jkniederberger5390 11 дней назад

I planted a Mountain Mint in my KC garden last year after seeing it just covered with pollinators at the Kauffman Garden. I hadn't thought about putting it in bouquets, but I will head out to pick some zinnias and China Asters and add some of this!

@samparr5276 11 дней назад

Hadn't come across the plant before, but glad it seems to be available in the UK too. You may want to put the name in the title, and the full plant name in the description, so that your video comes up when people search its name over the coming year. It would be a great video to come up when people are looking for more info on it!

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

@@samparr5276 No worries, it’s all keyworded up but I did add some hashtags!

@flowergrower1247 8 дней назад

I actually bought seeds of this perennial from Stems Flower Farms in Canada last fall as it was recommended by Jesse of B.A.R.E. Flower Farm but I did not get around to starting them this spring. I also purchased a package of Nicotiana Langsdorffii seeds from Sarah Raven that was on sale at a local greenhouse and I did manage to grow these. I absolutely love these Nicotiana and I am going to try to save some seed for next year. I love your channel, Erin, and your focus on growing special plants. I also accomplished a nasty cleanup job of quack grass in one of my beds, your video on tackling the infestation of lily of the valley inspired me. Cheers from Alberta, Canada!

@donnas3148 11 дней назад

We are so lucky in New England to have so many native plant sources. Ive been growing this for a couple of years and it is so lovely to watch the pollinators. I also grow virginianum.

@snu3877 3 дня назад

I love mountain mint. It is so fresh and lovely. Another bonus: over winter, the stems/flower heads get very stiff and architectural if you leave them up. In the spring, I cut them with very long stems and spray paint them to stick into my containers. This spring, I painted a few a very deep raspberry and stuck them in my pot of black sweet potato vine, chocolate cosmos, and petunia "Cappuccino."

@jillruthandco 11 дней назад

I've grown it for a few years and agree whole heartedly that's it's wonderful! Best filler in bouquets.

@ingehoughton6914 11 дней назад

I just bought my first Mountain Mint plant about 3 weeks ago. I had never heard of it before I started working at a garden center this spring and, little by little, this plant grew on me so I finally bought one. Looking forward to seeing how it incorporates where I planted it and would like to be able to divide it in a year or two to add to another part of the garden. Thanks, Erin, for another informative and fantastic video--Keep 'em coming! I'm so glad I found your channel!

@thomasschrader8272 11 дней назад

Started growing P. muticum this year, as I only grow native species. One of the best things about it is that it attracts lots of beneficial insects. It's especially popular among predatory wasps which help with my aphid problems. I also like that this species is very easy to divide and spread around, as it's very economical. I'm glad that it is getting it's needed spotlight.

@misstrcarter 11 дней назад

I had that variety of mountain mint some years ago in an old garden. I loved it and all the pollinators did too. The most visited plant in that garden. I need to get it again. I had forgotten all about it.

@sheryloverby5121 8 дней назад

Love this plant because you've talked about before...winter sown from seed! Easy peasy!

@MyFocusVaries 11 дней назад

I love these plant focus videos. Thanks. Coincidence! I'd never heard of this plant until I saw it in Fruits and Shoots nursery in Chilliwack (outside Vancouver BC Canada) a couple of weeks ago! It is so striking, it drew my attention. Its scent is not typical mint; it's softer, more like creme de menthe, similar to Corsican mint (adorable ground cover).

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

That is a perfect description of the scent.

@juliehorney995 11 дней назад

Timely video! Just got a start of Mountain Mint at a tour of a permaculture garden. Going to plant it in our new food forest strip. Zone 5b/6a. Cool beans!

@CherylBelczak 11 дней назад

I searched for this for a couple of years after seeing it in a native pollinator planting at a public park. Just planted it last fall and I love it! Like you said it's always covered in pollinators and it is great in bouquets.

@michmckinney 11 дней назад

I’ve grown this in my garden for the past few years, after being gifted it by my mother in law. It smells divine and has filled up a lovely little corner of my garden next to hyssop, hydrangeas and iris. Pollinators love it and it feels good to help them out with something native!

@brendahawkins7121 11 дней назад

I love this plant!! I winter sowed it in a milk jug & it did great. I love the silver foliage, I love it for pollinators, & for bouquets!!! The secret is out 💚

@studiotimothy 11 дней назад

I’ve been growing this wonderful native mint for several years here in my Georgia garden, and now have added two other species-I’ve also seen it trail side in a state park near here, growing happily-It’s the most visited plant in the garden by bees, wasps, butterflies and other insects-It does spread readily but also makes a perfect pass along plant-Thanks for sharing this video so others know about this amazing species!-

@dawnmitchell11 2 дня назад

I'm in central Texas zone 8b/9a. Would you mind letting me know what zone you are and what kind of sunlight situation you have this planted in? I presume we have similar conditions regarding temperature ranges.

@awildapproach 11 дней назад

It's one of my FAVORITE plants and a top pollinator plant for sure. It's gorgeous and tough. I planted it in a very steep and hot dry sunny spot, and I only had to get it established and it's doing so fantastic! I paired mine with little bluestem, like you mentioned in your video, and it's so pretty together along with my junipers. I plan to add some pops of yellow or purple to that garden space, to play off the blue-greens. I love that you added phlox to your space to go with it, because that's a very nice combination. I bet the butterflies go gaga for them both in your garden!

@MaryLou84 11 дней назад

I’ve seen this plant recent in the Oudoulf garden, on Belle Isle, in Detroit, and it looked amazing! Didn’t know what it was, so I google lense-d it. It is planted in big drifts there and was so so full of bugs. Will look for it, definitely! I need this in my garden.

@shanachrisman6638 11 дней назад

I garden in Northern Nevada, Zone 7a, and I have wanted this plant for a few years, and then I saw it in Laurie Garden in Chicago, and HAD to have it. (Rattlesnake Master too….but that’s a different plant for a different day). It’s not really available in nurseries here in the high desert west, so I ordered seeds, and started them indoors. I now have 3 Mountain Mints in my meadow, and am super hopeful they will survive the winter dry spells we get here on the east side of the Sierra Nevada.

@betsymaltby6788 11 дней назад

This plant is definitely on my radar for next season since I saw it in your garden and others who I follow on RU-vid. So many bonuses to adding to the garden, particularly as a filler for my cut flowers...something I am always lacking.

@Ladybugsandflowers 11 дней назад

I love my mountain mint. It did wonderfully this year during our hot and horribly dry summer, here in Kentucky. I actually purchased it last year from our “local” zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo has a native plant sale twice a year (spring and fall) at a farm that grows for the zoo. It has been a huge pollinator magnet. And it gives off a lovely minty scent. Also, none of the nibbling creatures touched it at all, which is wonderful, since we live in a woody 40 acres. I plan on taking any extra growth next spring, to increase the pollinator population throughout the area.

@celiacain9742 10 дней назад

I planted one this spring and have absolutely loved it. Covered in pollinators, beautiful scent, great as a cut flower and I use it in my floating flowers too!

@maggiecudic2744 11 дней назад

Love it! Easy to control. Mine is in a portion of a bed, along with fennel, oriental lilies, and red bee balm. It always has a plethora of pollinators swarming around it. Charlotte, North Carolina zone 8.

@jenperry427 10 дней назад

I started a bunch of this this year, just because of you! So far I love it, the smell, the blue foliage, it's lovely. I look forward to growing and planting more next year! Keep it coming, Erin!

@VirginiaFlowers 11 дней назад

I love mountain mint! I've been growing Pycnanthemum virginianum for a few years and the pollinators go crazy for it!

@amysgardenstead2879 11 дней назад

I heard this was a great filler for cut flowers and pollinators. I think Danielle from Northlawn Flower Farm was the one that suggested it. I have only seen it once in a nursery and didn’t get it because of the mint in the name. Next time I will get it. Thanks Erin!

@lm8006 11 дней назад

I’ve had this for a few years (truth be told, I happened to see it shortly after seeing one of your videos in which you mentioned it). I love it. Awesome foliage, fragrance (spearmint)& always covered with pollinators. It has spread a bit but is NOT super aggressive. I find it SO easy to pull the stalks up & out with roots intact, if needed.

@threeriversforge1997 11 дней назад

Definitely a good plant to have. I would encourage folks to seek out a local grower at a native nursery and get the local "ecotype" so we don't lose the genetic diversity in these beauties. Planted with Amsonia and other tall plants, in a large drift, they really do help the bring the whole design together.

@tarawatterson4188 11 дней назад

Love this plant! I originally confused it with Hoary Mountain Mint - Pyc. Incanum, which is nice, but not nearly as structural and more aggressive. Happy I finally found some Blunt Mountain Mint - Pyc. Muticum and have been happily spreading it around my garden and sharing with others.

@barbarabennett519 11 дней назад

I bought mine about 4 years ago from a local native plant grower. I really love it for all the reasons you mentioned 🐝👃👀

@upnorth21 11 дней назад

First of all, I watch my videos at lunch, so was happy to see one from you. I just planted that this year and it kind of got surrounded by other plants. Not thriving, but living, yaaay. I like the idea about planting by monarda. and good to know how cute it looks with cut flowers. Great to have you highlight it. I think it's a cool plant!

@Jpatmeadowbrook 11 дней назад

❤i bought mine 3 years ago from a Native Plant sale after seeing it at Hartshorn Woods, Atlantic Highlands, NJ and on Yulia’s RU-vid . It’s true, it’s a great plant. I made a hedge in front of my Clethera for succession blooming. The Clethera is a-lot taller but has the same traits. I’m in zone 7.

@stephengary1217 11 дней назад

I've heard a lot about it recently and recently ordered a couple from Bluestone Perennials.

@gwynethgaspari6255 10 дней назад

Planted mountain mint this spring. Appreciate your thoughts on its growing behavior, sounds good to me. Growing with muhly grass, sedum, bearberry, lamb's ear, spotted monarda, mugo pine, and others.

@gardener3017 11 дней назад

I think I'm one of the only people that loves growing mint in the open ground. I love pulling mint. I love walking on it. I love the way it looks. I love that the pollinators love it, especially the Siberian mint. I love that it grows so well in my very challenging high desert climate. I have a middle-sized garden, and yes, I probably have too much mint. Better than wild daylilies or Jerusalem artichokes though. I cannot eradicate those things. We battle, lol. Thank you!

@rickyt3961 11 дней назад

Thanks Erin! i could try it here in Oklahoma 🪴

@tamararay4959 11 дней назад

Excited to try this mint....been looking for one that doesn't take over. Thank you!

@emkn1479 11 дней назад

It was pretty aggressive in my garden, and it readily reseeds, so do keep an eye on it. Perfect in areas that need to be covered quickly.

@patriciamcgonigal2688 11 дней назад

Also looks pretty in pots. If worried about spreading - like I am - 8a metro Atlanta

@christinemarie2264 11 дней назад

I just planted that. A small quart plant that was one of my fall orders. Seems healthy so far. I hope it blooms for me next year.

@patrickboylan5514 11 дней назад

I planted a short toothed mountain mint a few months ago, and I love it!!❤

@YarrowPressburg 10 дней назад

One of your best videos.

@BukeyeStateGardening 11 дней назад

Never heard of this plant, but it sounds very interesting. Another plant that I don’t see often, but I got last year is turtlehead plant. It’s just starting to come into bloom here in my zone 6B Ohio garden. It does seem like it appreciates more water than a typical perennial (it supposedly can handle some wet feet), but I think if you can provide space for it, it is a great late season perennial!

@stephaniesharkey3538 11 дней назад

Thanks Erin🌿

@wildbirdfarm 2 дня назад

I LOVE it! So much so I made a video and called it the King of Mints! I have only started it from seed and have a nice patch after two years of sowing. I leave most for the beneficials but do cut some for cut flower bouquets.

@emkn1479 11 дней назад

I love it, since nobody eats it, pollinators love it, and it has an understated elegance, but I will say that’s it’s pretty aggressive and readily reseeds. There are steps to prevent reseeding and it’s not as bad as culinary mint, but do beware!

@breeking3333 10 дней назад

I have this plant growing in several areas of my 2.5 acre property and the pollinators absolutely go crazy for it… lots of beneficial wasps, bees and lightning bugs on it still in September in Central VA and has been a magnet since it started blooming around June. It grows a bit taller like 4 feet in an afternoon shade area and looks great towards the back of the border providing a silvery white color. I absolutely love rubbing my hands on it and getting that crisp, clean minty smell. And thank you for calling attention to it being NATIVE. I find some garden vloggers that do not do that enough.

@pamelacorsi 11 дней назад

I grow this in shade in my MA zone 6a garden and love it!

@karensteuer5905 10 дней назад

So glad to hear some recognition for this amazing plant! In my Cape Cod garden I have a huge clump of mountain mint growing up through pink malva alcea and the combination is delightful. Covered in pollinators for the entire growing season. Spread is easily controlled, as you noted. Love it!

@pseko 11 дней назад

like horse mint light 🙂. but smaller flowers -- I'd be happy to see that one germinate in my yard ... thanks Erin -- it's on my list.

@VictoriaGillis 4 дня назад

I have been growing this for many years and love it!!

@deborahdyste8017 11 дней назад

I planted hairy mountain mint, the name by which I've known it, in 2023 and it was nice but nothing to get excited about This year it has doubled to tripled in size and fullness and seems to be adored by the pollinators.

@cherylt6888 11 дней назад

A beautiful addition to to consider 😊

@kristaself126 11 дней назад

Hope I can find this plant for next year.

@tjcihlar1 10 дней назад

I planted one this year. It had a tought time at first with the Colorado heat, but it settled in and is doing well. It keeps upright well.

@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica 10 дней назад

Another great recomendation! thanks Erin

@terrivance8750 9 дней назад

Erin, I've gone through the same thing recommending Montrose White calamint (one of my all-time fav plants!) to people--no, no...nooooo mint. It's not till I explain that it's sterile/won't seed & has a clumping/mounding habit &, therefore won't spread, that they'll even contemplate it.

@TheImpatientGardener 9 дней назад

People have been traumatized by mint! We need a special therapy program for mint PTSD sufferers.

@thomasnoble1816 5 дней назад

I cannot recommend this plant more highly. I did a Chelsea chop which seemed to help with the flopping.

@TheImpatientGardener 5 дней назад

@@thomasnoble1816 Great feedback on the Chelsea chop. I’ve not tried it so it’s great to hear your experience.

@briandaniels4 11 дней назад

We added this plant to our garden in July and the little plants are doing so well, I went out yesterday and got 5 more. My wife originally wanted them for her cut flower business. But we now want enough we can enjoy them all over our 1 acre garden. Great video!!

@PetrasGarden 11 дней назад

Love this plant! Had problems to grow it from seed. Got cuts from a mature plant and let them get some nice roots under grow light in smaller growing pots for about 7-8 weeks then planted them out in early May. Happy to say that I now have my own patch of Mountain Mint😊 . Zone 7b MD and clay soil!

@garyjackson5802 11 дней назад

I have a few of these interspersed with viburnums (nudum and trilobum) and it works great!

@ginnytalbert3696 11 дней назад

Grew it in a large pot, it lasted about three years then pooped out. Great pollinator plant, smells divine, and great in a bouquet. I'll be glad to find it again. Thanks for the heads up!

@mrsrover8997 11 дней назад

I've heard so many good things about mountain mint. I grew it from seed this spring, in my zone 4 garden they are still very small plants but I'm hoping to see them flower next year.

@paulaparr9370 11 дней назад

I grew it from seed early this spring. Nearly 100% germination rate! Easy peasy, plus inexpensive.

@aalejardin 11 дней назад

Good to know, seems like a candidate for winter sowing.

@johnniekuykendall2696 11 дней назад

Thanks for the recommendation! I just ordered 3 plants! I'm looking forward to seeing which pollinators it attracts to my yard!

@lisacarson6968 11 дней назад

I grew it this year! It’s spectacular! I will be growing more this year and have already split! Looks beautiful with other plants.

@aalejardin 11 дней назад

I am growing this in a semi-shaded area where we have removed invasive weeds -- I was actually hoping it would spread but so far it is hasn't gone crazy. It will be interesting to see how it does against some of the weeds that will start creeping back into the area we have cleared. I am going to try to keep a DMZ between what I have planted and the jungle but don't know whether that will be possible to maintain. Anyway, this plant provides really nice texture in the garden and the pollinators are going crazy for it. I'm planning to grow it to try in some other areas of the property. Thanks for highlighting!

@safefromdaapes7109 11 дней назад

I Love that plant

@belwynne1386 11 дней назад

Rely on meadow mint in my pollinator habitat. Love it! But I have never cut it back!

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

Is it evergreen for you?

@user-dk9pj7qy4n 11 дней назад

I got this plant a few years ago after seeing in one of your videos. I have it next to lemon balm so that area is always full of bees. While it spreads, it's really easy to pull out whatever I don't need.

@TheTinkerersWife 11 дней назад

Do you hapoen to know anyone out here in NW Oregon or Washington that has grown it? Annie's Annuals sells seed, but to date, no plants listed elsewhere and no record of it offered for sale.

@michelebushnik2874 10 дней назад

Hi Erin! I thought it was a win for me, googled it, said it was toxic, so a no for me. I can't have anything toxic due to animals and children. I love it though!❤

@TheImpatientGardener 9 дней назад

Bummer that it won’t work for you but I understand. I bet you have a hard time finding plants that work for you. Other than my vegetable garden I bet I’d have a hard time finding a plant in my garden that wasn’t listed as toxic.

@MollyBearisms 11 дней назад

Thanks for highlighting this plant, I love it so much! I have it in a part sun location on a slope. I use it to help guard my liatris and phlox from deer and rabbits. It really helps! It also does fabulous in storms for me, I actually don't have any flopping. And I believe to be a very beautiful plant. Love watching all the species of pollinators get drunk on it. It is amazing to watch 🤩

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

That is an EXCELLENT idea!

@susanmurray2529 10 дней назад

I'm going to try it in an area of our yard that's effected by a neighbor's black walnut tree.

@theUrbanGardener 11 дней назад

I would love to have you on our gardening show?

@DouglasDrake-o8e 7 дней назад

I have had such a bad experience with cat mint that I'm leery but may try this.

@jillstange6426 11 дней назад

You read my mind! But I will hear you out 🥰

@AsterNemoralis 11 дней назад

There are several Pycnanthemum (mountain mint) species that are native to the US and work well in cultivation. Another good one is Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (narrow leaved mountain mint). They deserve more attention for meadows and flower borders.

@TheImpatientGardener 11 дней назад

I'm definitely going to add some P. tenuifolium to the garden.

@maryannconner7699 2 дня назад

I live in Midcoast Maine. If I find this plant now or order it would it be safe to plant now? Thanks…I learn soo much

@bonniejackson7476 8 дней назад

Hi Erin where did you find plugs? Thanks 😊

@denisekarres7914 11 дней назад

Thanks for this video. I’ve heard of mountain mint and how it’s so great for pollinators but the word mint scared me off.

@lindsaymason6979 11 дней назад

What'd you say it was called... itea? Jk 😂 So glad they picked a native, pollinator-friendly plant of the year! Would look good next to penstemon, too, especially a purple-leaved variety. Thank you for sharing!

@belwynne1386 11 дней назад

Can you recommend a source for meadow mint plugs?

@lisamorris4232 2 дня назад

Hi Erin, This isn't about this video but the one you just put up about the Annebelle hydrangeas and it said private and wouldn't come up. Could it be because you used the m word?