Mint.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial herb

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Indoor light

bright-indirect

Water

Every 2 to 4 days

Mature size

60cm tall, indefinite spread

Growth rate

fast

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist and pinch back the stems regularly to encourage a bushy shape. Watch for signs of rust or powdery mildew on the leaves, which can happen if air circulation is poor. If the plant becomes root-bound in a pot, it will quickly lose vigor.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Regularly harvest or pinch back stems to encourage dense growth.

Repotting

Repot when the plant becomes root-bound or growth slows significantly.

Soil

Moist, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperature

-10 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 60%

Drought tolerance

low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years before needing division.

Fragrance

strong

Deer and rabbits

high

Safety

People

Mint is generally safe for humans, though excessive consumption of concentrated essential oils can be harmful.

Pets

Mint is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though large ingestions may cause mild stomach upset.

Children

The strong menthol content can be overwhelming for very young children, so keep essential oils out of reach.

Contact allergens

Some people may experience mild skin irritation or contact dermatitis from the essential oils in the leaves.

Airborne allergens

The strong menthol scent can occasionally trigger respiratory sensitivity in individuals with asthma or severe allergies.

Edibility

While many mints are culinary staples, ensure you have correctly identified the species as some lookalikes are toxic.

How to identify it

• Opposite, serrated, aromatic leaves
• Square stems typical of mint family
• Small, tubular flowers in spikes
• Spreading habit via underground stolons

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.3 to 1m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

purple, pink, white, 0.5 to 1cm

Common problems

• Mint Rust — Small orange pustules appear on the undersides of leaves, often caused by poor air circulation.
• Aphids — Tiny insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

Cut the stems back to the ground once the foliage dies back in autumn. The roots will remain alive in the soil and sprout again when spring warmth returns.

In containers

Mint is perfect for containers and should be grown in a pot at least 10 inches wide to manage its spread.

Always plant mint in its own container even when placing it near other garden beds to prevent it from choking out companions.

Grows well with

• Tomato — Mint is often said to improve the health and flavor of nearby tomato plants.
• Cabbage — The strong scent of mint can help deter common cabbage pests.

Keep away from

• Parsley — Mint is so aggressive that it will quickly crowd out and stunt the growth of parsley.

Similar species

• Catnip — It belongs to the same family and has a similar growth habit but is distinct in its effect on cats.
• Lemon Balm — It shares the square stems and vigorous growth of mint but has a distinct lemony scent.

Science

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Mentha

Order

Lamiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Most species are native to the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Conservation

Mint is widely distributed and not of conservation concern.

Mint thrives in moist, disturbed soils where its rapid growth and stoloniferous habit allow it to outcompete other vegetation.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, pollinator habitat

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Uses

culinary herb, tea ingredient, ground cover, aromatic garden plant

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why is my mint dying back in winter?

Most mints are herbaceous perennials that naturally go dormant and lose their foliage when temperatures drop.

Can I plant mint in the ground?

You can, but it will spread aggressively through its root system and become very difficult to remove.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Mentha is derived from the Greek nymph Minthe, who was turned into the plant by Persephone. The common name mint follows this ancient linguistic root.

Good to know

• Mint has been used for thousands of years in both culinary and medicinal traditions.
• The name comes from the Greek nymph Minthe, who was transformed into the plant.
• There are over 25 species of mint in the Mentha genus.
• Mint is famously invasive and is best grown in containers to keep it from taking over the garden.