This little-known woodland creeping mint is endemic only to a small number of states (including Pennsylvania, but to the west of our area). We are in its northernmost range, and it bottoms out on the North Carolina-Tennessee border in the Appalachian mountains. This does well in a shade garden. I have mine planted beneath an American holly, which is evergreen – my planted one is in the main photo. Although it’s been pruned up so I can walk under it, there is no direct sun reaching the ground.

I think this is the ideal garden plant, and I’m sure it will catch on quickly. It is semi-evergreen (it did not disappear for me this past winter). Deer definitely don’t seem interested in mine, though it appears some other insect has taken a few bites. Over time, it fills in as a ground-cover. You can include them as a “spiller” in a hanging basket or planter arrangement.

They’re also very easy to propagate. Mints are generally quite easy to grow from seed, and these can be grown from cuttings to produce more quickly. I haven’t needed to use any sort of rooting hormone, just snip and stick a leaf node in the soil. If you have a few spots where you need to stick a deer-resistant ground-cover, one plant can get you pretty far. The hairy, leathery leaves are unlikely to be confused with the invasive creeping charlie.

In late spring, you’ll be graced with surprisingly large purple flowers, compared to its size. They seem to bloom for a good while, too. I have had mine blooming for several weeks now (starting mid-May, and we’re into June).