We were first introduced to mountain mints by a friend who was very excited to tell us about all the great attributes of this plant. We now grow three species of Pycnanthemum and usually encourage visitors to the nursery to smell and check out all three. People defiantly have different opinions on which one they like best. They are all spectacular pollinator plants Mountain Mint attracts many insects to its flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies and beetles. This makes it extremely valuable for the pollinator garden.
 
Short-tooth Mountain mint leaves are very fragrant; when crushed they have a strong minty smell. You can use it in potpourri. We also included the flowers in boutonnieres at my daughter’s August wedding. The smell is really that great. The flowers are white and pink and the upper leaves are grayish green, very pretty.
 
Short-toothed Mountain mint will grow to about 2 to 3 feet tall in full sun or part shade. It is not fussy about soil moisture. This plant is not aggressive but will spread. Deer do not like this plant the smell and taste will deter them.
 
You can include this plant in your meadow garden, your rain garden or the edge of a woodland garden. Place Mountain Mint around plants deer like to eat to help keep them from sampling your more palatable plants. Good companion plants are Joe Pye Weed, Red Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia, Purple Cone Flower, and Black eyed Susan. Plant it with spring bloomers such as Alleghany Pachysandra, Barren Strawberry, Willow Blue Amsonia , ferns and sedges so you will be sure to have plants flowering all seasons.