Covering the 2025 Garden Trends report published by Garden Media Group last column left me a little flat.
Do gardeners really think visitors will be drawn to 鈥渁n unreal garden鈥� in their forecasted trend 鈥� 鈥淯nreality: Maximalism鈥�?
I could understand it if people were visiting a Jurassic theme park; there the plants would fit the surroundings. But on a city lot? Not seeing it. However, don鈥檛 let me stop you if that is 鈥測our thing."
To restore my faith in sensible garden themes, plants and colours, I visited the Perennial Plant Association website to check out their selections for 2025. Starting with the Perennial Plant of 2025 鈥� clustered mountainmint (Pycnanthemum muticum) 鈥� you will find this one quite interesting. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, this plant is hardy in Zones 4 to 8, only grows to 3 feet (0.9 m) in height, will take full sun (best for flowering) but tolerates light shade and is decently drought tolerant. There are no serious insect or disease problems, but rust may be problematic from too much moisture and/or poor air circulation.
The flowers are a pretty shade of pink and a magnet for pollinating insects to the garden. The leaves are green with a dusting of white, and rub them and they emit a spearmint scent. One can also use them to brew a mild tea.
Even though its common name is mint, it does not behave like the aggressive mints in the Mentha genus. While mountainmint will spread by rhizomes, it is said it can easily be kept under control by using a spade in a circle around the plant to prune the roots.
Back to the PPA 2025 selections, Herb of the Year is German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). According to the National Institute of Health website, we should be very careful not to be confused with similar-looking plant species in the Anthemis genus. While Matricaria chamomilla is a well-known medicinal plant used in traditional and folklore medications. Certain Anthemis species, on the other hand, are poisonous.
The problem dates back to Linnaeus misnaming them in his first edition of Species Plantarum. He later corrected his mistake but the National Institute of Health website recommends using the following botanical name when looking for true German chamomile鈥atricaria recutita鈥hich is synonymous with Matricaria chamomilla and Chamomilla recutita. And thus, you have a stellar reason why you must be very assured of any plant identification, especially a herbal one that is used in medicine
Carrying on to the Flowering Shrub of the Year 2025鈥t is Syringa 鈥楽centara Double Blue鈥�, a delightful blue to purple-toned lilac. According to Proven Winners Color Choice website, this shrub is where 鈥渃lassic meets whimsical.鈥� Sounds divine!
Its proper registered name is Syringa x hyancinthiflora 鈥楽MNSHBBL鈥�. Hardy from Zones 2 to 8 it will grow 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) tall and wide. It likes full sun, flowers in spring and attracts pollinators.
Now, if only I could grow lilacs. They are certainly hardy, even for the -12掳C overnight temperatures we have been getting lately. I wound up giving my lilacs to my cousin for their new winery. And wouldn鈥檛 you know it?!! I just found out recently that there are no fewer than three ways to prune a lilac correctly. How did I ever miss that fact?
Now for the fun one!The American Hosta Growers Association has selected Hosta 鈥楽kywriter鈥� as this year鈥檚 winner. And I agree. Imagine a 14- to 16-inch (35.5 to 40 cm) tall mound of thick steel blue leaves with rippling edges that will stretch to a width of 32-inches (81 cm). Just wow!
And I had to sneak another hosta onto my wish list: 鈥楳arilyn Monroe鈥�. A thick, medium green heat-shaped leaves edged with delightful ruffles. And when a breath of wind catches the leaf tip, up it flips to reveal a white underside in typical Munroe style.
Please don鈥檛 tell John I am looking for more hostas.
Leslie Cox co-owns Growing Concern Cottage Garden in Black Creek. Her website is
