Peppermint is said to lend an atmosphere of cheer and optimism, so a cup of Peppermint Tea is refreshing as a pick me up. Peppermint has been a favorite strewing herb due to its bright aroma when crushed underfoot. Peppermint gets the descriptor piperita from the particular peppery, pungency that distinguishes it from other members of the mint family. Mint supposedly got its pungent, sweet smell when Hades softened the spell so that when people walked upon his lover they would smell her sweetness. Persephone then turned Minthe into a lowly mint plant that people would walk upon. When Hades was driving his golden chariot, he came upon Minthe and was about to seduce her when his wife Persephone caught them. Minthe was a river nymph in the Cocytus River (one of the five rivers of Hades). In Greek mythology, the story of how Peppermint got its characteristics goes something like this: During Biblical times it was used as a medium of monetary exchange and for payment of tithes. In Ancient Egypt Peppermint was used to aid in the relief of stomach pains. Peppermint is native to the Mediterranean and North Africa. In high heat areas, cutting your Peppermint back in late summer will cause fresh, new growth to come out once the fall weather arrives and you’ll have a new crop to harvest. Leave the flowers until they fade, though, as they attract butterflies and beneficial insects such as hover flies to the garden. Cut plants back after flowering to encourage new leaf growth. Don’t neglect to water it.įor best results with Peppermint, it’s best to divide and replant an established plant every 3 to 4 years. In containers, it still needs decent drainage. I’ve seen it growing happily under the drip of a room air conditioner or near a faucet in the garden. It likes water and does well where herbs that need better drainage will not do well. Peppermint is hardy to Zone 5 and grows in a wide range of soils. Or… you can move to Seattle or Milwaukee or Pittsburg and grow your mint in full sun where it will thrive and try to take over the neighborhood. If you’re growing your mint in a container, you can give it lots of Winter and early Spring sun, then move it to a spot where it’s shaded from the searing late summer sun. Under a deciduous tree is perfect- Winter sun, Summer shade. My recommendation is to grow your mint where the plant gets morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in the summer. If you live in a desert area or the hot, humid Gulf Coast South, as I do, mints can tend to fail in the heat of the summer. Peppermint likes cool moist roots and to grow into the sun. If not, mints grow quite well contained in pots or hanging baskets. If you really like Peppermint Tea or want to make Peppermint Essential Oil, you’ll need lots of Peppermint leaves, so a rambling plant may be just what you need. Of course, that definition is in the eye of the beholder. In fact, many people consider it a garden pest if it escapes into the landscape. Most mints are easy to grow and Peppermint is no exception. It has shiny, dark green leaves and dark stems. It is a favorite for sauces to be served over ice cream. citrata has very rounded, fuzzy leaves, grows taller than many other Peppermints and has a citrus-like flavor.Ĭhocolate Mint, is a cultivar of Peppermint that smells and tastes somewhat of chocolate. Citrusy scent.īlack Peppermint, Mentha piperata– Hardy perennial grows up to 2 feet, (60 cm), leaves pointed, oval and toothed on the margin, dark plum brown tinged with green. Large rounded leaves, oval, dark green, can be tinged with purple. citrata ‘Orange’– Hardy perennial grows up to 32 inches (30 cm) with an indefinite spread. The following are either found cultivars or man-made ones that are popular. This habit can cause your mints to lose character over time, so if you have a mint you especially like, keep it isolated from its brethren, or you may lose the properties of it that you like the best. ![]() ![]() Mints in general are very promiscuous, crossing with each other when in flower at the same time. If you find a Peppermint that you really like, the best way to keep it going is through vegetative propagation: stem or root cuttings, ground layering or division. So if you see Peppermint seed for sale, you will not get true Peppermint by growing it out, but, rather, a form of Spearmint with, often, a less than pleasing aroma and taste.īecause the mints which make up Peppermint are themselves somewhat variable, not all Peppermint smells or tastes the same. This means that Peppermint does not produce viable seed. True Peppermint is a sterile hybrid between Water Mint, M. aquatic and Spearmint, M.
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