Scientific Name
Mentha × piperita L.
Common Name(s)
Peppermint, Black Peppermint, Curly Mint, Hairy Peppermint, White Peppermint
Synonym(s)
Mentha aquatica f. piperita, Mentha × piperoides
Scientific Classification
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Genus: Mentha
Flower
Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Description
Mentha × piperita is a herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial with smooth stems and dark green leaves with reddish veins, an acute apex, and coarsely toothed margins. It grows up to 35 inches (90 cm) tall. Leaves are up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long and 1.57 inches (4 cm) wide.
The purple flowers are up to 0.31 inches (8 mm) long and up to 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter and appear from mid to late summer.
How to Grow and Care
Mint is one of the few culinary herbs growing well in shady areas, although it can withstand 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. Be careful to keep container Mints from flopping over and touching the ground. Stems will root quickly if given a chance.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Mint Plants.
Origin
Mentha × piperita is a hybrid mint, a cross between Water Mint and Spearmint.
Links
- Back to genus Mentha
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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