2018 Plant of the Year, Winner

Proposed by: a member of Garden Club of Madison, Zone IV

Pycnanthemum muticum, commonly known as mountain mint, is a native perennial that attracts such an abundance of diverse bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects that it has been described as providing "wildlife TV!"  It is an excellent source of nectar but also attracts predatory and/or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects. This easy-to-grow ornamental plant has noteworthy blue-green foliage, silvery bracts, aromatic leaves, and pinkish to white flowers that bloom from July through September.  It naturalizes politely and provides an attractive upright and tiered clump that is 2 to 3 feet high and just as wide. Pycnanthemum muticum grows in USDA Zones 4 to 8, in full sun to partial shade and both drought and wet conditions. It helps with erosion control, is resistant to diseases, insects, deer, rabbits and rodents and happily grows from Maine to Michigan and south to Florida and Texas.