Plants That Smell Like Mint

If you love the clean, refreshing scent of mint in your garden but worry about its aggressive spreading, you’re not alone. The good news is there are many wonderful plants that smell like mint, offering that familiar aroma without the invasive roots. These aromatic alternatives can fill your garden with that cool, invigorating fragrance while being much easier to manage.

This group of plants shares a key characteristic with true mint: they contain aromatic compounds called menthol or similar chemicals. That’s what gives them that recognizable cool scent. However, they belong to different botanical families and offer unique looks, growth habits, and uses. Adding them creates a sensory layer to your garden that is both pleasurable and practical.

Why Choose Mint-Scented Alternatives?

True mint (Mentha) is famous for taking over garden beds. Its runners spread quickly underground, crowding out other plants. By choosing look-alikes, you get the scent without the constant battle. Many of these plants also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. They can deter certain pests naturally, making them excellent companions for vegetables and other flowers.

You can use them in many of the same ways as mint. Their leaves are perfect for homemade potpourri, herbal sachets, or simply brushing past to release their fragrance on a warm day. Some are even edible and can be used in teas and cooking, though you must always check safety first.

Top Garden Plants with a Minty Fragrance

Here is a list of reliable plants that will give you that minty freshness. They vary in size, flower color, and growing needs, so you can find the right one for your space.

Bee Balm (Monarda): This North American native has showy, shaggy flowers in red, pink, or purple. Its leaves release a strong oregano-mint scent when crushed. It’s a major pollinator magnet.
Catmint (Nepeta): Often confused with catnip, most ornamental catmints have a lovely, mild minty aroma. They produce masses of lavender-blue flowers over silvery-green foliage and are very drought-tolerant once established.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): This herb is in the mint family but is less invasive. It has a bright, lemony-mint scent and is wonderful for tea. It can self-seed, so deadheading is recommended.
Vietnamese Coriander (Persicaria odorata): This is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine. Its leaves have a strong, peppery-mint flavor and scent. It grows well in pots and loves moisture.
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum): A native perennial with a powerful minty scent that carries on the breeze. Its flowers are surrounded by silvery bracts, giving it a frosted look. It’s excellent for native wildlife gardens.
Salvia (Many Varieties): Many salvias, especially those in the “greggii” or “microphylla” groups, have leaves that smell minty or fruity when brushed. They offer long-lasting blooms and love hot, sunny spots.
Korean Mint (Agastache rugosa): Also known as Blue Licorice, this plant has spikes of purple flowers and leaves with a distinct anise-mint fragrance. It’s beautiful and edible.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium): A low-growing, creeping mint relative with a very intense fragrance. Note: It is toxic if ingested in large quantities and should be used with caution around pets and pregnant women.

Detailed Spotlight: Bee Balm

Bee balm is a standout for any garden. It’s a clump-forming perennial, meaning it spreads gradually but is easy to control compared to true mint. It prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. To keep it healthy and prevent powdery mildew, ensure good air circulation around the plants.

You can use the leaves of bee balm to make a soothing herbal tea, often called Oswego tea. The flowers are also edible and make a colorful garnish. To propagate, you can divide the clumps every few years in spring or fall, which helps rejuvenate them.

Detailed Spotlight: Catmint

Catmint is one of the toughest, most reliable perennials you can grow. It thrives in poor, dry soil and full sun. After its first major bloom in early summer, shearing it back by half will encourage a second flush of flowers. It rarely needs dividing and isn’t bothered by pests.

The ‘Walker’s Low’ variety is a popular choice for its long bloom time and neat habit. While cats may be attracted to it and roll in it, they usually don’t damage it severely like they do with catnip. It’s perfect for the front of borders or along pathways.

How to Grow and Care for Mint-Scented Plants

Most plants that smell like mint share similar preferences. They generally love sunshine and well-drained soil. Overly rich or soggy soil can lead to leggy growth or root rot. A simple care routine will keep them thriving for years.

Planting: Choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunlight. Amend heavy clay soil with compost to improve drainage. Space plants according to their mature width to ensure good air flow.
Watering: Water deeply after planting to help establish roots. Once established, many are quite drought-tolerant. It’s better to water less frequently but thoroughly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Feeding: These plants typically don’t need heavy feeding. A top-dressing of compost in spring is usually sufficient. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers and scent potency.
Pruning: Regular deadheading encourages more blooms. For perennial types, cut stems back to the ground in late fall or early spring. For woody herbs like some salvias, prune in spring after new growth appears.
Winter Care: In colder climates, a layer of mulch after the ground freezes can help protect perennial roots. Container-grown plants may need to be moved to a sheltered location or insulated.

Designing Your Aromatic Garden

Think about where you’ll enjoy the scent most. Plant these aromatics along walkways, near seating areas, or under windows where the breeze can carry the fragrance indoors. Combine them with other sensory plants for a full experience.

For a Border: Use taller plants like Bee Balm or Korean Mint in the middle or back. Edge with low-growing Catmint or Pennyroyal.
For Containers: Lemon Balm and Vietnamese Coriander do excellently in pots. This also controls any spreading tendencies. Make sure your pots have drainage holes.
Companion Planting: The strong scent of these plants can help mask the smell of vegetables from pests. Try planting catmint near roses to deter aphids, or mountain mint near tomatoes.

Harvesting and Using Your Minty Leaves

The best time to harvest leaves for drying is just before the plants flower, when the oil content is highest. Pick them in the morning after the dew has dried but before the midday sun. You can use them fresh or dried.

For Tea: Fresh or dried leaves of Bee Balm, Lemon Balm, and Korean Mint make excellent herbal teas. Steep a handful of fresh leaves or a teaspoon of dried leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
For Potpourri: Dry leaves and flowers slowly in a dark, airy place. Mix them with other botanicals like rose petals and lavender buds. Add a few drops of mint essential oil to refresh the scent over time.
In Cooking: Vietnamese Coriander is essential in pho and salads. Lemon Balm can be used in fruit salads, marinades, and desserts. Always confirm a plant is edible and safe before consuming it.
As a Simple Freshener: Place dried leaves in small muslin bags to tuck into drawers or closets. Crush a few fresh leaves in your hands to enjoy a quick, natural breath of fresh air.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even easy-care plants can have issues. Here’s how to handle common problems with mint-scented varieties.

Powdery Mildew: This white fungus appears on leaves, especially on Bee Balm in humid conditions. Prevent it by choosing resistant varieties, providing good spacing for air circulation, and watering at the soil level, not on the leaves.
Leggy Growth: If plants become tall and floppy, they likely need more sun. Pinch back the growing tips in spring to encourage bushier, more compact growth.
Poor Scent: Lack of fragrance is often due to low light or over-fertilization. These plants produce their aromatic oils best when grown in full sun and leaner soil conditions.
Self-Seeding: Plants like Lemon Balm can spread by seed. To control this, simply remove the flower heads before they go to seed if you don’t want volunteers.

FAQ About Plants That Smell Like Mint

Q: Are all plants that smell like mint safe to eat?
A: No, not all of them. While Bee Balm, Lemon Balm, and Korean Mint are commonly used in teas, others like Pennyroyal can be toxic. Always positively identify a plant and check its edibility from a reliable source before tasting.

Q: Which mint-scented plant is the best for attracting butterflies?
A: Bee Balm and Mountain Mint are exceptional choices for attracting butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators to your garden. Their nectar-rich flowers are a valuable food source.

Q: Can I grow these plants in shady areas?
A: Most prefer full sun for the strongest growth and fragrance. Some, like Bee Balm and Lemon Balm, can tolerate partial shade, but they may become leggy and produce less scent and fewer flowers.

Q: Do any of these plants repel mosquitoes?
A: The strong scent of plants like Catmint, Pennyroyal, and Lemon Balm is often said to deter mosquitoes. Crushing the leaves and rubbing them on your skin may offer temporary relief, but they are not as effective as dedicated repellents for serious protection.

Q: How do I stop catmint from attracting all the neighborhood cats?
A: While cats enjoy catmint, they rarely destroy it. Placing small rocks or prickly twigs around the base of the plant can discourage rolling. Alternatively, you can grow it in a hanging basket where cats can’t reach it easily.

Q: What’s the most low-maintenance mint-scented plant?
A: Catmint (Nepeta) is arguably the most low-maintenance. It’s drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, doesn’t need fertilizing, and thrives with minimal care once it’s settled in.

Final Tips for Success

Start with one or two plants that suit your garden’s conditions. Observe how they perform in your specific microclimate. Gardening is often about experimentation, and these plants are generally forgiving. Remember that well-drained soil is crucial for almost all of them; they dislike having wet feet.

Consider keeping a simple garden journal. Note when you planted, when they bloomed, and any issues that arose. This record will be invaluable for planning next year’s garden and expanding your collection of fragrant plants. Sharing divisions with friends is a great way to pass along these wonderful scents and save money too.

With these plants that smell like mint, you can create a garden that pleases the nose as much as the eyes. Their refreshing aroma adds a special dimension to outdoor living, turning your garden into a true retreat. The invigorating scent on a summer evening is a simple pleasure that never gets old.