Meehan's mint Interesting Notes

Looking for a native substitute for Ajuga or Lamium? This could be it! Meehania cordata has long, trailing stems run across the ground and root along the way. Foliage reaches only 1-2” above the ground with flowers growing 3-4” above the leaves. In late spring the green carpet gives way to hundreds of lilac to pink to purple flowers opening to reveal spotted throats. They are beautiful from a distance and under close scrutiny. A perfect plant for shade conditions and does well in moist shade and in dry shade. In dry shade, Meehania cordata, or creeping mint, will not spread as freely.

Meehania cordata is native from western Pennsylvania to North Carolina to Tennessee to Illinois and can be found in rich humus woods and wooded slopes. Creeping mint prefers part shade in moist, rich soils but can tolerate dry sites in deep shade and full sun if there is sufficient soil moisture.

Creeping mint can be easily propagated by stem cutting. While it is stoloniferous and creeping, it is not aggressive like ground ivy, another cordate creeping plant. We enjoy using it as a groundcover and border edging plant in woodland or shade gardens. It grows very well under shrubs as a living mulch. An under-appreciated perennial in the landscape, it is recently growing in popularity.

Meehania cordata Growing and Maintenance Tips

Grows well in part or full shade and moist to average soil. Tolerates a dry shady site, but will not spread as freely.