Scientific Name
Mentha aquatica L.
Common Name(s)
Water Mint
Synonym(s)
Mentha hirsuta, Mentha acuta, Mentha acutata
Scientific Classification
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Genus: Mentha
Flower
Color: Pinkish to lilac
Bloom Time: Summer
Description
Mentha aquatica is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows up to 35 inches (90 cm) tall. The stems are hairy to nearly hairless and green or purple. The rhizomes are wide-spreading, fleshy, with fibrous roots. The green, sometimes purplish leaves are opposite, ovate, toothed, hairy to nearly hairless, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long, and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide.
The flowers are tubular, densely crowded, pinkish to lilac, and form a terminal hemispherical inflorescence. Flowering is from mid to late summer.
How to Grow and Care
Mint is one of the few culinary herbs that grow well in shady areas, although it can handle full sun if kept watered.
Cuttings of Mint will root easily in soil or water, and mature plants can be divided and transplanted. However, you can start new plants from seed. Sow outdoors in late spring or start seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Keep soil moist until the seed germinates.
Mint prefers rich, moist soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.5 and 7.0. If the soil is somewhat lean, top-dress yearly with organic matter and apply an organic fertilizer mid-season after shearing.
To contain the roots and limit spreading, you can grow Mint in containers above or sunk into the ground. However, be careful to keep container Mints from flopping over and touching the ground. Stems will quickly root if given a chance.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Mint Plants.
Origin
This species is native to Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.
Links
- Back to genus Mentha
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
