Mentha
( MEN - thuh )
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At-A-Glance InformationPlants in the genus Mentha are commonly known as Mints, and are known to easily hybridize with other species in the genus. They grow best in wet environments and moist soils, and are aromatic perennials. Plants produce stolon roots which spread indefinitely, and grow to be between 4 and 48 inches tall when mature. These useful herbs are native to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, North America, and South America. Take care when planting these in the landscape or vegetable garden, as many species are considered to be aggressively invasive in gardens.
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Mentha Species and Varietals
The genus Mentha is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae, and includes between 13 and 24 distinct species. The growing zones for these trees and shrubs vary depending on the species; for more information, consult the information below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Mentha alaica (Mint) Native to central Asia, this species reaches over three feet tall when mature, and propagates itself via creeping rhizome roots. Leaves are green and about four inches long. The species was first recorded by Russian botanist Antonina Borissova in 1954. Individual plants reach up to just over three feet tall and wide at maturity. |
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Mentha aquatica (Water Mint) This species is a perennial rhizomatous plant that prefers to grow in very moist places. The entire plant has a minty smell to it, and produces flowers that are light pink to light purple-lilac in color. Blooms appear from mid- to late summertime. These plants are native to Europe, north Africa, and western Asia, where it grows in shallow pools, wet meadows, along streams and rivers, and around dikes, ditches, and canals. Leaves can be used to make herbal teas. The varietal 'Eu de Cologne Mint' or 'Bergamot Mint' is used to produce Mentha Citrata oil (Bergamot Mint Oil), used in perfumes. |
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Mentha arvensis (Corn Mint, Field Mint, Wild Mint) These herbaceous perennial plants reach up to 2 feet tall when mature and in bloom, and produce pale purple (sometimes white or pink) flowers in spring or summertime. Leaves are slightly hairy and green. Plants can grow erect or be more sprawling in habit. Leaves are sometimes used to make tea or eaten raw. |
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Mentha canadensis (Canada Mint, American Wild Mint, Chinese Mint, Sakhalin Mint, Japanese Mint, East Asian Wild Mint) Native to North America and east Asia, these plants prefer to grow in wet, boggy areas. They produce flowers that are pink with a bluish tint, and bloom from July through August. Plants can reach up to 18 inches tall, and produce hairy stems and leaves. |
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Mentha cervina (Hart's Pennyroyal) These plants are native to the western Mediterranean Sea area, and take the form of sprawling herbs up to about a foot tall when mature. Flowers produced by these plants are pink to pale lilac-blue. In some areas of the world, the foliage is used fresh or dried in salads, stews, soups, cheeses and sauces. Plants reach up to between 8 and 16 inches tall at maturity and spread to 12-24 inches wide. |
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Mentha cunninghamii (New Zealand Mint, Maori Mint) Endemic to New Zealand, this species was named to honor English botanist Allan Cunningham. Plants are slender, wiry, and prostrate. They produce many branches and are often seen in matted piles. Flowers are small and white, and leaves are aromatic, sometimes used in cooking. These are low-growing plants and typically reach just 2-12 inches tall. |
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Mentha gattefossei (Gattefosse Mint) This Moroccan-native mint species has seen use in traditional medicine, pest control, and as a food seasoning. Plants have a creeping habit, and are many-branched, typically reaching up to a foot tall at the maximum. Flowers are pinkish-purple and appear from May through June in the plant's native range. Individual plants can reach up to 8-12 inches tall at maturity. |
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Mentha grandiflora (Large-Flowered Mint) This species produces larger flowers than many others in the genus, and is native to eastern Australia. The species was first described in 1848 by botanist George Bentham. Flowers are pale lilac-purple. These plants are not typically used as culinary herbs, due to their fiery, bitter, and otherwise unpleasant taste. They reach between 6 and 16 inches tall when mature and in bloom. |
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Mentha japonica (Japanese Mint) This species is endemic to the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu in Japan, first identified and described by botanist Tomitaro Makino in 1906. These plants are considered to be both rare and endangered. These perennials reach up to 16 inches tall and produce flowers that range in color from white to pale violet. To 8-16 inches tall. |
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Mentha longifolia (Horse Mint, Brookmint, Fillymint, St. John's Horsemint, Arabian Mint, Wild Mint) Native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northern and southern Africa, this species produces a plant with a peppermint scent. Leaves are green and hairy, and flowers are lilac, purple, or white. Individual plants can reach up to between 3 and 5 feet tall and spread through the landscape over time via underground roots. |
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Mentha pulegium (European Pennyroyal, Pennyrile, Mosquito Plant, Pudding Grass) This species is native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and is a traditional folk remedy. Crushed leaves emit a very strong scent similar to spearmint. Stems are reddish, and mauve flowers bloom in June, lasting through fall. These plants are fantastic pest-resistant additions to the landscape. |
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Mentha requienii (Corsican Mint) This species of mint is native to Corsica, Sardinia, and Montecristo Island, and is a very low-growing species that forms a mat of foliage with a strong minty aroma. Plants reach just 4 inches tall and produce small mauve flowers in July and August. This species makes a great interactive groundcover for between stepping stones and lining walkways. This is the mint that is used for the flavoring creme de menthe. |
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Mentha royleana (Royle's Mint, Jangli Podina, Pudina, Tulasi Paate, Valenay, Nari Wailani) Native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalayas and Kashmir, this species is named for botanist John Forbes Royle. These perennial plants produce fragrant foliage and produces somewhat discolored leaves. Flowering spikes hold purple to pink flowers in spring and summertime. |
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Mentha spicata (Spearmint, Garden Mint, Common Mint, Lamb Mint, Mackerel Mint) This species is well-known as a flavoring for foods and teas. Essential oils are also extracted from the plant, which reaches up to 40 inches tall. Summertime flowers are produced in slender spikes, and can be pink to white in color. The common name Spearmint refers to the pointed leaf tips. |
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Mentha suaveolens (Apple Mint, Pineapple Mint, Woolly Mint, Round-Leafed Mint) This member of the mint family is native to southern and western Europe (including the Mediterranean). It forms an upright plant that is grown as either a culinary herb or ornamental groundcover. Foliage is light green, and flowers are white to pinkish, blooming in mid to late summertime. The entire plant has a minty fruit-like flavor. |
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Caring for Mentha
Take care when planting these in the landscape or vegetable garden, as many species are considered to be aggressively invasive in gardens. It can take over an entire yard in just a few years' time, and will out-compete most other landscape plants for nutrients and water. Many gardeners choose to grow Mint in containers or simply add edging around the planting area that extends 18 to 24 inches deep to combat this tendency
Mentha, or Mint, plants are typically grown from seed (either sown directly into the garden or started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the spring). Space plants 18 inches to 2 feet apart. Choose a space in the garden that receives full sun to light shade; the warmer the climate, the more shade (especially in the late afternoon when temperatures are at their peak) they can get and still perform well. If Mint is grown in too much shade, it has a tendency to become leggy and produces less flavorful foliage. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Mint plants appreciate getting regular waterings, especially during their active growing and blooming periods in spring and summertime. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms.
Harvesting Mint
Mentha, or Mint, plants are typically continuously harvested throughout the growing season, an activity which also serves to prune the plant back and discourage creeping stems from taking root where they are not wanted. Using sharp, clean shears or snips, cut stems just above a leaf node. Leaves can be picked from stems and used fresh, or stems can be bundled and dried in a cool, dark, dry place upside down. After drying, store mint in a sealable container. It will stay fresh for between 1 and 3 years. Fresh mint leaves can be stored rolled in a moist paper towel in a perforated plastic bag and will stay fresh for between 7 and 10 days. Stems can also be placed in a glass of water on a countertop for between 10 to 14 days, used whenever it is needed.
Mentha, or Mint, plants are typically grown from seed (either sown directly into the garden or started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the spring). Space plants 18 inches to 2 feet apart. Choose a space in the garden that receives full sun to light shade; the warmer the climate, the more shade (especially in the late afternoon when temperatures are at their peak) they can get and still perform well. If Mint is grown in too much shade, it has a tendency to become leggy and produces less flavorful foliage. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Mint plants appreciate getting regular waterings, especially during their active growing and blooming periods in spring and summertime. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms.
Harvesting Mint
Mentha, or Mint, plants are typically continuously harvested throughout the growing season, an activity which also serves to prune the plant back and discourage creeping stems from taking root where they are not wanted. Using sharp, clean shears or snips, cut stems just above a leaf node. Leaves can be picked from stems and used fresh, or stems can be bundled and dried in a cool, dark, dry place upside down. After drying, store mint in a sealable container. It will stay fresh for between 1 and 3 years. Fresh mint leaves can be stored rolled in a moist paper towel in a perforated plastic bag and will stay fresh for between 7 and 10 days. Stems can also be placed in a glass of water on a countertop for between 10 to 14 days, used whenever it is needed.
Propagation
Mentha, or Mint, can be propagated by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. Mint plants are notorious for cross-pollinating, so if you have the goal of seed propagation, make sure to hand-pollinate and then exclude flowers by tying mesh bags around them. To propagate your Mint, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Mentha by Seed
Propagating Mentha by Cutting
Propagating Mentha by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Mentha by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Mentha by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.
Propagating Mentha by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Seeds are held where flowers once bloomed on Mentha plants.
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Mentha seeds.
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Problems and Pests
Mentha plants are typically pest and disease free, but they can suffer from time to time from the following:
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Nematodes
- Mint Rust
- Verticillium Wilt
- Powdery Mildew
Gallery
Mint can make a great, fragrant groundcover for small, contained spaces.
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Bees love the flowers produced by Mint plants.
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Many home gardeners choose to grow Mint plants in containers to fight their invasive tendencies.
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Mint plants tend to spread out from their designated space.
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Mint plants have recognizable, fragrant foliage.
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Some species produce whorls of flowers, others produce flowers on terminal spikes.
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Videos
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A lesson about English Pennyroyal from the Mountain Gardener.
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How to grow Mint in the garden.
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Resources
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