Best guide to 54 types of mint to grow with scent profiles • shovelandcrunch.com

There's no other herb quite like mint. It can carry you on an icy invigorating breeze, or delight your taste buds with a burst of sweet green freshness. There are so many captivating ways to experience mint: in desserts, cocktails, sweets, and even in savory dishes. It's so easy to grow and savor impossibly fresh mint in your kitchen from your own backyard. And I have 54 types for you to enjoy! I've grown them all and documented each one with photos, details and my own scent notes, so you'll know which ones are just right for you. Please keep reading to discover the Best guide to 54 types of mint to grow with scent profiles!

All of the mint photos in this post are from my own garden. I hope you enjoy all of these varieties as much as I do!

Jump to:

History of mint
"True" mints vs. others in the mint family
Mint uses
Mint leaf scent vs. flavor
How to grow mint
1. African potato mint
2. After eight chocolate mint
3. Amsterdam lemon mint
4. Apple mint
5. Arabian mint
6. Balkan mint - variation 1
7. Balkan mint - variation 2
8. Banana mint
9. Basil mint
10. Berries and cream mint
11. Black mitcham peppermint
12. Blackcurrant mint
13. Chewing gum mint
14. Chinese mint
15. Chocolate mint
16. Corsican mint
17. Cotton candy mint
18. Double mint
19. Eau de cologne mint
20. Egyptian mint
21. English mint
22. French peppermint
23. Fruit sensations
24. Fuzzy Chinese mint
25. Ginger mint
26. Grapefruit mint
27. Hillary's sweet lemon mint
28. Iced hazelnut mint
29. Ingauno mint
30. Jamaican / Costa Rican mint
31. Japanese field mint
32. Julep mint
33. Kentucky colonel mint
34. Lavender mint
35. Lime mint
36. Margarita mint
37. Marley mint
38. Marshmallow mint
39. Mojito mint
40. Moroccan mint
41. Mountain mint, hairy
42. Mountain mint, Virginia
43. Orange mint
44. Orange bergamot mint
45. Peppermint
46. Pineapple mint
47. Scotch mint
48. Strawberry mint
49. Sweet pear mint
50. Swiss mint
51. Thai mint
52. Vietnamese mint
53. Water mint
54. Wintergreen mint
❓Frequently asked questions
📚Resources
✏️Have your grown these mints?
🥕More gardening posts you'll love

History of mint

In Greek mythology, Hades, the god of the underworld, was enchanted with a nymph named Minthe. Hades' jealous wife Persephone changed Minthe into a plant. Hades softened the spell by giving this plant a sweet fragrance.

Mint has been grown and harvested since antiquity, and has been found in tombs in Egypt from 1000 BC. It's been cultivated in Japan for at least 2,000 years. The Romans brought it to Europe. In the 18th century, mint became important for its medicinal applications, and was used as a cure for colic, digestive disorders, and many other conditions.

In Europe, people would use mint by placing it around homes and in sickrooms. Colonists brought peppermint and spearmint to the New World to use as medicine, tea, and as a sleep aid.

"True" mints vs. others in the mint family

The mint family, known botanically as Lamiaceae, includes many beautiful flowering and aromatic plants. The ones that we generally know as mint are within the Mentha genus, and these make up most of the mints listed in this post.

Some of the other mint family listings in this post include plants that can be enjoyed like mints in a culinary capacity, but are in a different genus category. These include African potato mint (genus Plectranthus), Balkan mint and Jamaican / Costa Rican mint (genus Clinopodium), and mountain mint (genus Pycnanthemum).

Here are some mint family members that have great uses in the kitchen. I love to grow these in my mint garden. This list includes the types of mints listed above and more, by genus and with culinary examples of each:

Agastache: anise hyssop, Korean hyssop
Clinopodium: calamint, lesser calamint
Elsholtzia: Vietnamese balm, Vietnamese lemon balm
Hyssopus: hyssop
Lavandula: lavender
Marrubium: white horehound
Melissa: lemon balm
Mentha: spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, orange mint, chocolate mint, etc.
Monarda: bee balm, bergamot, Oswego tea
Nepeta: catnip, catmint
Ocimum: basil
Origanum: oregano, marjoram
Perilla: shiso (green and red)
Plectranthus: African potato mint, lemon leaf
Pycnanthemum: mountain mint
Salvia: common sage, pineapple sage, clary sage
Salvia rosmarinus: rosemary
Satureja: summer savory, winter savory
Thymus: common thyme, lemon thyme, wild thyme, etc.

There are way too many exciting mint family members to include in this post. The 54 types I'm listing here are just a thrilling starting point!

Mint uses

Medicinal

Today, mint is used in a large variety of ways: as medicine for digestion and upset stomach, nausea, muscle spasms, or cramps, among other uses. Many of mint's beneficial properties come from menthol, which comprises 50 to 78 percent of the oil of peppermint.

Menthol stimulates bile, promoting digestion. It's also an antispasmodic, calming muscles in the digestive system and relieving menstrual cramps. It can also relieve hunger by temporarily delaying peristaltic action.

Culinary - main types

There's such an incredible range in the culinary uses of a wide variety of mints. They've been traditionally used in tea, jelly, and sauces, among many other applications in the kitchen. There are so many mints to explore, each one lending its own unique and special fragrance and flavor to enjoy.

Peppermint

Peppermint is the primary mint used commercially to flavor candy and chewing gum. In home gardens, the best peppermint leaves to use are the young and fresh ones. They make a wonderful tea, simple syrup to flavor desserts, cocktails and sodas, and as an addition to fruit salad.

Spearmint

Spearmint is even more versatile in the garden than peppermint. It's milder, sweeter, and less cooling, and it works really well in both sweet and savory dishes. It's ideal in cocktails (like mojitos and mint juleps), desserts, and liqueur.

Japanese mint

Along with peppermint and spearmint, Japanese mint is the other most widely and commercially important mint variety worldwide. The species Mentha arvensis var. piperescens (#31 in this post) is the primary menthol source, and is harvested in various areas in Asia and South America.

Homemade crème de menthe liqueur

I did a test of several varieties of my garden mints to make my own homemade crème de menthe, a classic French mint liqueur. There were 6 different trials, with mints ranging from the sublime Corsican mint (the type of mint traditionally used for this drink, and #16 in this post) to grocery store mint, to the enthralling Kentucky colonel spearmint (#33 in this post), to a combination of 17 different mints from my garden.

And I've tested variations in the steeping time from 4 weeks to 15 years! Please see all of the variations, taste-tested by 19 people, and find the winning recipe, in my post Homemade Crème de Menthe Guide: 6 Versions Reviewed.

Mint leaf scent vs. flavor

In addition to my descriptive scent notes I've added to the listing for each mint, I've also collected tasting notes as well. But I've chosen not to include them here, and here's why.

When flavor can mislead

In testing both the scents and flavors of both basil and mint leaves, I've been shocked to find the degree to which both can exhibit misleading and unpleasant flavors when tasted directly in the garden. I've found that both herbs contain molecular compounds such as phenols and terpenes that can show up differently on the tongue when combined with saliva compared to being combined with food as we'd normally use them in the kitchen.

When scent is best practice

And I've found that scent is a much more accurate indicator of culinary potential than taste when testing the raw leaves. So while it was fascinating to taste these mints and encounter flavors as diverse as vanilla, cool rain, and rich tea, I didn't want to mislead you with some of the other ones I encountered, like burning tires, dark dirty puddles, or sterilized surgical instruments. Smelling them is much more enjoyable, and is a much better predictor of taste for culinary applications.

Basil does this too!

I've kept my flavor notes in my two basil posts if you'd like to see them. I'm not sure if this information is less than helpful. Some of them did taste good when tasted outright, as did some of the mints. Below are both my part 1 and part 2 basil posts. Part 1 has the scents combined with the flavors, and part 2 has the scent and flavor profiles listed separately.

38 Types of Basil to Grow in Your Herb Garden, Part 1

45 Types of Basil to Grow in Your Herb Garden, Part 2

kentucky colonel mint plants with a bee on a flower

How to grow mint

Plants vs seeds

There are a few mints that set seeds and can grow true from them. But for the most part, many commonly-grown mints are sterile hybrids. This includes true peppermint. In addition, mints grown from seed do not necessarily grow true to type. So starting mint from cuttings or purchased seedlings is generally the most reliable way to grow it.

It's really easy to start new mint plants with cuttings in a glass of water, or by planting sections of runner stems or growing tips in some moist, well-draining potting soil mixed with compost.

Hardiness

Most mints in the Mentha family are perennials that are hardy somewhere in the range of USDA zones 4-9, with some species in a narrower band within this range or in a warmer climate only. Please give these mints a try, even if they may be outside of your hardiness zones such that you need to grow them as an annual. They're so worth growing and enjoying all summer long.

Invasiveness

Mint is considered aggressive and highly invasive. It self-propagates by sending both underground rhizomes and above-ground stolons (horizontal stems or runners) to try to root nearby and send up new plants.

Mint can spread so quickly that it can take over a garden bed or an extensive area of lawn within a single growing season. The most effective way to manage mint is by planting it in pots or containers, and watching the stolons that sneak over the rim and try to root in the soil below.

My plant sources

The sources from which I've bought my mint plants (and in some cases, seeds) for this post have come from three vendors that I recommend wholeheartedly. They all devote great care and have very high quality seeds and plants.

Growing conditions

Mint grows best from part shade to full sun, in well-draining potting soil with a fairly neutral pH that has been amended with compost. Please plant it in pots due to the mint plant's invasive nature. I cannot stress enough how quickly mint can take over if it's planted in the ground!

mint sprigs in colanders, with a kitchen towel alongside

Pests and disease

Mint can be susceptible to fungal diseases such as rust and mildew.

Rust shows up as small rust-colored spots on the leaves, often on the undersides. If any of your mint leaves are affected, prune them out immediately and dispose of them rather than composting them. The best way to prevent rust from afflicting your mint plants is to have good air circulation, to avoid watering the leaves directly, and to harvest the growing tips regularly.

Powdery mildew can potentially cause an issue for mint, especially in humid climates with reduced airflow. It can affect mint late in the season; but if it does, it's generally not a severe case. The best way to prevent mildew is by good plant spacing and exposure to the sun.

Aphids or spider mites may become attracted to mint plants, but they generally don't cause much damage. And the plants generally outgrow pest exposure without intervention.

How to harvest and store fresh mint

Mint is such a resilient plant that you can start harvesting it while still young. To keep mint plants from becoming leggy, pick the growing tips often throughout the growing season. This causes them to branch out and become more healthy and lush.

To store freshly-harvested mint tops, I like to wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep well like this for at least 1-3 days, and are generally still usable for up to 5 days.

How to dry mint

You can dry mint stems upside down in hanging bundles or in a dehydrator or oven at the lowest heat setting. Try to keep the leaves intact to preserve the essential oils and flavor. For the best flavor, store the dried mint in airtight glass jars away from bright light.

Repotting your mint

After a few years, potted mint can become woody and spent. I find that it really reinvigorates mint plants to remove the roots after a year or two, especially the ones that have been encircling the edges inside the pots. Replanting the younger shoots can also really help to give the plants new energy and vitality.

Uniqueness within varieties

Please note that I've grown and included two versions of Balkan mint, and I'm counting them separately in this post. I always like to try out different versions from separate vendors to establish just how unique plants of the identical name can be. Please compare the photos and scent notes of both variations of this mint to see just how distinctive they can be from one another.

The 54 mints

Without further ado, here are the 54 mints that I've grown, that you can grow too. I'm arranging them alphabetically by common name. Enjoy!

1. African potato mint

roasted african potato mint tubers in a cast iron pan with coarse salt and a napkin in the background

I've grown 2 different versions of Balkan mint, so you can see the difference in appearance and in scent that can arise from plants of the same name from different vendors. I think this is one of the biggest joys of experiencing variations amongst cultivars.

My Balkan mint from Ginger's Greenhouse has tiny cupped leaves that point upward, with flowers from between the leaf nodes to the growing tips. They're in loose formations compared to typical mint inflorescences. The flowers are white and adorable. The leaves are a deep forest green. The plant is fairly sparse and not very tall. The stems are long for a low growing plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining soil, somewhat drought tolerant

Height

12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

My scent notes

Slight lemon scent, slight smokiness; mildly minty; balsam, cedar, eucalyptus, camphor, hot rocks, old lake water, cold rain, petrichor

7. Balkan mint - variation 2

Botanical name

Clinopodium thymifolium

Origin

Balkans / southern Europe

Description

Here's the second variation of Balkan mint that I've grown, from Richters Herbs. Like the first version above, these plants have very small dark green leaves that point upward, and loose inflorescences of white flowers spread out from between the leaf nodes to along the growing tips. The plants are low-growing. This version of Balkan mint has filled out the pot fairly well, as it's fairly dense. The leaves have a satin finish, and are healthy and full.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining soil, somewhat drought tolerant

Height

12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

My scent notes

Surprisingly clean mint scent from such a small leaf; deep spearmint fragrance; really nice and strong; vintage mint tea; mint chewing tobacco, old vinyl, a deep mint scent

8. Banana mint

Botanical name

Mentha arvensis 'Banana'

Origin

France

Description

Banana mint is beautiful. The adorable light purple flowers grow between the leaf nodes. This plant has a prostrate (low, creeping) growth habit. The leaves are soft and fuzzy. They're small and elliptical (oval-shaped), reaching a gently-tapered point. This plant also reseeds readily. It's a really adorable mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12 inches (30 cm)

My scent notes

This mint really does smell like banana in a pleasant way, like banana-flavored candy; sweet rich soil, umami, deep, fresh, clean laundry; heavy rains, sweet cornbread, fresh green tomato leaves, young sweet pea pods, a spring vegetable garden in the morning

9. Basil mint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita citrata 'Basil'

Origin

Unknown

Description

Basil mint leaves are cupped, and have a beautiful rich green color with fuchsia veining, shallow-toothed margins, and a satin finish. It's a low-growing basil, with flower inflorescences that are small and round with deep lilac petals. The stems of the plant are red. The plant is sending out many healthy runners trying to escape the pot, and the growth is very robust.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full to part sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Green bell peppers, mildly sweet; fresh spring rain, new leaf, sweet young green beans, spiced basil, damp air, clean clothes; vanilla, brown sugar, hint of eucalyptus, sun-dried linens

10. Berries and cream mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Berries and Cream'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Berries and cream mint is striking, with nearly-round deep kelly green leaves that taper to a gentle point. The plant is fairly low-growing, with small, fuzzy, short flower inflorescences. It can send out several running stems outside of the pot. The stems are a deep red as are the veins and margins of the leaves. The stems aren't particularly thick and are somewhat sprawling.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18 inches (45 cm)

My scent notes

Musky, vintage linens; a little sweet, mildly minty, sweaty, tangy, a little salty; fresh lake water, petrichor, sautéed mushrooms, nutmeg

11. Black mitcham peppermint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita 'Black Mitcham'

Origin

England in 1750 in the Surrey district, southwest of London

Description

Also known as black peppermint, black mitcham peppermint is a low-growing mint with deep burgundy stems. The leaves are fairly small and oblong with a gentle point. The veins and leaf margins are the same deep burgundy as the stems.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-11

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Strong, pleasant minty fragrance; menthol, eucalyptus, cold streams, winter wind, toasted bread; nose-tingling, nice, clean, pure minty smell; mild smokiness

12. Blackcurrant mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Blackcurrant'

Origin

Mediterranean

Description

Blackcurrant mint has beautiful, deep forest green leaves that are puckered and deep burgundy at the veins. The flower inflorescences are fuzzy and adorable. It can send out several long stem runners that escape the pot. The stems are strong and burgundy in color, and sprawl outward. It's a healthy plant, and the coloration is absolutely stunning.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Nice, clean, and fresh; deep, rich, and wonderfully fruity; blackcurrants, fresh green leaves, spring rain, rich soil, sweet oranges; comforting, mild and creamy mint fragrance

13. Chewing gum mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Chewing Gum'

Origin

Europe/Mediterranean

Description

Chewing gum mint has young leaves in a dark forest green. The more mature leaves are a more yellow shade. The stems, leaf veins, and margins are a beautiful dark, deep purple color. The small leaves are cupped and point upward. It's a low growing, healthy-looking and elegant mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Chocolate and mint desserts; fresh, cool, bracing, uplifting, invigorating; chilly winter night, really enjoyable, lots of menthol

14. Chinese mint

Botanical name

Mentha haplocalyx

Origin

East Asia

Description

Chinese mint is tidy, full, and voluminous. The leaves are small, narrow, and tapered. They're a classic rich green. Some of the lower leaves are more bronzed. The stems are a deep fuchsia, along with the veining on the margins of some of the leaves. Other leaf tips are completely green. It has a more sprawling habit as the stems aren't particularly strong, but it's healthy and well-proportioned.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

20-24 inches (50-60 cm)

My scent notes

Smoky roasted oranges, toasted hay, green grapes, toasted lemon slices, sourdough bread, freshly-cut wood, mildly minty

15. Chocolate mint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita citrata 'Chocolate'

Origin

Hybrid between Mentha aquatica (water mint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint), from Europe, Africa, and Asia

Description

Chocolate mint is especially appealing, with its characteristic red stems and opposite-positioned orthogonal leaf pair formation. The leaves are a deep, handsome green. They're slightly wider at the base, somewhat puckered along the veins, and cupped inward, with pointed tips. They have mauve veins and margins. The strong stems arch and splay gracefully outward. The burgundy inflorescences (flowering structures) have light purple petals. This is a really attractive, vigorous plant. It's prone to sending out multiple stem runners outside of the pot.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

24 inches (60 cm)

My scent notes

A delight to smell; truly chocolatey and minty, chilly winter night, minted hot chocolate, sweet, enchanting, invigorating, captivating

16. Corsican mint

Botanical name

Mentha requienii

Origin

Corsica/Sardinia

Description

Corsican mint is probably the most shockingly unique-looking mint. It's very low-growing, creeping, and mat-forming, with shallow roots. And the leaves are a vibrant, luminous green. They're each only a millimeter or two in diameter. The miniscule, adorable flowers are a rich light pink color. This mint spreads slowly and horizontally, and in warmer climates it can outgrow intended growing spaces. But it's non-woody and easy to lift, so this isn't a real challenge. This is really one of my favorite mints that I have to grow every year.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-9

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

1 inch (3 cm)

My scent notes

Amazing, shockingly sweet and minty fragrance; this mint always makes people gasp when they smell it, especially because it's so tiny and looks so different from other mints; undertones of lemon, campfire smoke, aged forests, clean and crisp fall morning air, singed hay, luscious forest understory, new leaves; toasted sourdough bread, salted limes; just amazing; such a beautiful and special mint.

17. Cotton candy mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Cotton Candy'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Cotton candy mint has an appealing bluish-green cast. The leaves are soft and fuzzy. They're small, very narrow, and deeply-pointed. The stems arch and sprawl with and burgundy-shaded down. It's a fairly sparse, low-growing plant. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are at the growing tips with petals in a white to light purple. This is a really appealing mint with its bluish leaves and soft downy feel.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-11

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Sage, incense, campfire, lake water, slight hint of mint, mild sweetness, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, camphor

18. Double mint

Botanical name

Mentha x gracilis

Origin

A cross between Mentha x piperita (peppermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint).

Description

Double mint is a fairly tall plant, despite not being very full in volume. The stems are a deep burgundy. The leaves are narrow and deeply pointed, with very pronounced wrinkles at the veins. The flowers grow between the leaf nodes.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Such a shockingly sweet and delicious scent; candy canes, pure mintiness; mild nasal chill; just pure mint delight

19. Eau de cologne mint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita citrata 'Eau de Cologne'

Origin

Europe

Description

Eau de cologne leaves are flattish and almost oval. They have a satin finish, with mauve veining and margins of the leaves. It's a really pretty mint. It sends out healthy runners with dark red stems. The plant has a low growth habit. Most of the stems are the same low, uniform height. The detail on the leaves and the colorful veining and margins are really attractive.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

24-36 inches (60-90 cm)

My scent notes

Perfume, soap, mild menthol, smells like an herb, not as minty. Less of an orange scent, but the cologne part is really accurate

20. Egyptian mint

Botanical name

Mentha niliaca

Origin

Egypt/eastern Mediterranean

Description

Has a similar appearance to apple mint, but with larger, velvety leaves and sturdier, more upright stems. The stems are fairly tall. The leaves are thick with soft white down. They're oval-shaped, wrinkled, impressed (sunken) at the veins, which are white. The margins are the same color as the leaves. The strong, tall stems are somewhat sprawling. This is a really beautiful mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-11

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

36 inches (90 cm)

My scent notes

Clean, deep, beautiful mint fragrance; background of banana, pear, caramel, spearmint, classic mint

21. English mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'English'

Origin

Mediterranean, brought to England by the Romans

Description

English mint is a fairly low-growing, ground-hugging mint. It can spill over the edges of the pot and seek to escape. The flowers are small, lilac-colored, and in between the leaf nodes, like with banana mint and ginger mint. The stems are reddish and delicate. The leaves are dark green, cupped inward, and pointing upward. They have a satin finish, and are somewhat fuzzy. They're wider at the base and reach a gentle point.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Traditional mint, bubblegum, candy, fresh sweet marshmallows, soft, fresh and clean, creamy, really enjoyable; would be wonderful in tea or a mojito; a lot of sweetness is coming through; really like this one; spearmint fragrance, green tea, freshly-mown grass, very herbaceous, spring meadows, clean laundry

22. French peppermint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita 'French'

Origin

Europe and the Mediterranean

Description

French peppermint has a soft, satin finish on the leaves, with burgundy stems, and inconspicuous burgundy veining and margins on the small leaves. The plant can be sparse and leggy. The stems are delicate and sprawling, with a few understated runner stems.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Minty, creamy, sweet, smooth, somewhat savory note; roasted oranges, cool breezes, crisp fall day, nicely nose-chilling

23. Fruit sensations

Botanical name

Mentha 'Fruit Sensations'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Fruit sensations mint is a handsome plant with fuzzy, fairly smooth lime green leaves with purple margins. They're rounder than most, serrated, and tapering to a point. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are cute and fuzzy. The plant can send out multiple runner stems outside of the pot. It has very upright growth in some of the stems, but other stems are fairly low.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-11

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Mild minty fragrance, slightly sweet, floral and fruity, old rope, antique shop, incense, smoke, roasted red, grapes, just a hint of sweetness

24. Fuzzy Chinese mint

Botanical name

Mentha haplocalyx

Origin

East Asia

Description

Fuzzy Chinese mint has an appealing blue-green shade. The leaves are downy and soft. They're narrow, reaching a gentle point. The stems are somewhat sprawling and sparse. The lower stems are purplish, but near the growing tip, they're more green. The flower structures are long and tapered with light pink petals. The plant has good volume, and yet it's also somewhat leggy between the leaf nodes. The bluish cast to the leaves is beautiful.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Garden vegetables, celery, menthol, rich dark tea, air freshener, spring water, barely-detectable mint scent, surprisingly mild

25. Ginger mint

Botanical name

Mentha x gracilis

Origin

Europe and Asia

Description

Ginger mint is attractive and low-growing. The leaves are an emerald green on the newer growth and a bright lime green on older growth. They're somewhat flat and wide at the base, as well as short and widely-serrated with a matte finish. The blooms are between the leaf nodes. The light mauve stems are gentle, graceful, swaying, and of a fairly uniform low height.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18 inches (45 cm)

My scent notes

Fresh ginger, pine needles, less minty, winter woods, masala chai, black pepper, vanilla, perfume, bitter lemon, lemongrass, galangal, orange, peel, perfume, clean, lime zest, fresh spring air

26. Grapefruit mint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita 'Grapefruit'

Origin

Europe

Description

Grapefruit mint becomes completely covered in beautiful lilac-colored, rounded and adorable flowering tufts, and is highly attractive to bees. It's a very impressive plant, with a nicely-formed, large volume. The kelly green leaves are soft, fuzzy, and cupped inward. The veins and margins of the leaves are a purple shade. The downy stems are strong and tall, and burgundy in color with several runner stems. This is a really attractive and vigorous plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Deep grapefruit, savory, salty, lemon, mildly minty, cedar balsam, blonde wood, vanilla

27. Hillary's sweet lemon mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Hillary's Sweet Lemon'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield; a cross between apple mint and lime mint

Description

Hillary's sweet lemon mint grows fairly low to the ground and is dense in volume. The downy, compact leaves are wider at the base and taper to a soft point. They're fairly flat and impressed (sunken) at the veins. The stems are fuzzy, and can be whitish, green, or burgundy. The flowers are on long inflorescences (flowering structures) at the growing tips. It has a sprawling growth pattern. The downy look of the plant is beautiful.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-11

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Sagebrush, marshmallow, cinnamon, stainless steel, slight minty sweetness, orange taffy, mildly invigorating, light smokiness, purple grapes

28. Iced hazelnut mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Iced Hazelnut'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Iced hazelnut mint looks very characteristic of a spearmint. The lanceolate (lance-shaped) lime green leaves are wrinkled, narrow, and pointed. The ones near the growing tips are smaller, but the lower leaves are a fairly large size. This mint has very deep burgundy stems and can have leggy growth. The fairly delicate stems are somewhat arched and wandering in various directions. This plant is really beautiful.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-11

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Nuts, oranges, nice bracing nasal chill; salt, toasted bread, sweet iced coffee, steamed rice, fresh green stems, mild spearmint; clean, clear, and sweet; banana, vanilla, carob

29. Ingauno mint

Botanical name

Mentha spicata 'Ingauno'

Origin

Europe, North Africa, and Asia

Description

Ingauno mint has leaves that are small, flattened, and rounded before tapering to a pointed tip. They have an emerald green, matte finish. The dark red stems are fairly upright and somewhat leggy. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are long and green with light pink blooms. This is a really appealing mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

My scent notes

Sweet peas, old books, good sweet cup of tea, nice, clean, cold rain, damp smoke, rich soils, wet rocks, clean bubbling streams, sweet spearmint, fresh, enjoyable to smell, deep, dark, rich, fresh spices, vintage candy

30. Jamaican / Costa Rican mint

Botanical name

Clinopodium vimineum

Origin

Tropical Americas

Description

Jamaican/Costa Rican mint is distinctive and charming. It's not dense, yet is strong and robust. The adorable beautiful electric lime leaves are flat, narrow, and obovate (teardrop-shaped). The veins are impressed (sunken). Some of the stems are tall, whereas others remain low-growing and sprawling. It's a healthy and remarkable looking mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 9-11

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

6-10 feet (180-300 cm) in frost-free climates when grown as a shrub

My scent notes

Bracingly fresh like peppermint; classic fresh mint scent; deeply aromatic, mint gum, very fresh cold streams, icy permafrost

31. Japanese field mint

Botanical name

Mentha arvensis var. piperascens

Origin

East Asia

Description

Japanese field mint is nice and tall, and can be somewhat leggy. The fairly flat leaves are impressed (sunken) at the veins, elliptical (oval) in shape, and reaching a gentle apex (tip). The leaves have a matte finish, and are a deep forest green. The flowers are situated between the leaf nodes, reaching a good distance down each stem. This plant may send out runner stems over the edge of the pot.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

24-36 inches (60-90 cm)

My scent notes

Very mild scent, clean, fresh cold water, definitely minty and slightly sweet

32. Julep mint

Botanical name

Mentha spicata 'Mint Julep'

Origin

Unknown

Description

Julep mint is a vigorous and vibrant spearmint with a compact habit. It has a medium height, with leaves that are a deep kelly green. They're fairly small, wider at the base, and not as wrinkled as with Kentucky colonel spearmint. Some the leaves have a purple and bronze shade at the growing tips. The strong, fairly upright stems range from light green at the tips to a more variegated combination of green and purple on the older stems. A delightful fragrance emanates from the leaves.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

24 inches (60 cm)

My scent notes

Clean, minty, clear blue streams, candy, spearmint, green, fresh, enjoyable to smell, sweet, strong, cold metal, spring breeze, freshly-laundered towels

33. Kentucky colonel mint

Botanical name

Mentha spicata 'Kentucky Colonel'

Origin

A highly-esteemed variety of spearmint, which is a cross between Mentha suaveolens (apple mint) and Mentha longifolia (longleaf mint). Prized by Spanish invaders in the New World, who carried this mint with them to places as widespread as Guatemala, New Mexico, and the Philippines.

Description

Kentucky colonel is a classic high-quality spearmint. The plant is huge, with bright lime green leaves and red stems that arch and splay outward. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are plentiful and fairly long with light pink petals. It's hardy, prolific, and a healthy and beautiful plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Stunning, delightful, such delicious spearmint flavor; pure, fresh, high-quality mint candy, the best mint chewing gum, the best crème de menthe, roasted marshmallows, sweet red grapes, green and white striped candy canes, unbelievable how sweet this smells; fresh grasses, fresh meadows, vanilla, lush vegetation

34. Lavender mint

Botanical name

Mentha × piperita 'Lavender'

Origin

Europe

Description

Lavender mint is a peppermint cultivar, rather than a member of the genus Lavandula like the lavender herb we know and love. Lavender mint is a striking mix of color combinations. The puckered leaves are slightly elliptical (oval-shaped) and bending downward with a softly tapering tip. The lower leaves are an electric lime green, the upper leaves and stems are a mauve to burnished copper color. The leaf veins and margins are a mauve color, with deeply fuchsia colored runner stems. It has a fairly low growth habit. It's uniformly dense with a bushing habit. The bees love the beautiful flowers, which are short with very light purple coloring. It's a really striking mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

30 inches (76 cm)

My scent notes

Fresh lavender, perfume, lemony herbs, summer savory, old alpine cottage, bracing, but mildly minty; slight nasal cooling, not very sweet; thyme, cloudy day, wet concrete, epazote, mitsuba, cardamom, herbal tea, old metal, perfume, light sweetness

35. Lime mint

Botanical name

Mentha × piperita 'Lime'

Origin

Mediterranean region

Description

Lime mint has bright, medium green cupped leaves. They're slightly ruffled with deep purple veining and shallow scalloped margins. The short, rounded flowers are adorable, light purple, and located at the growing tips. It can send out an impressive number of runner stems in a deep burgundy color.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Lime, chilled white wine, juniper, fresh grass, bubbling brook, mildly minty, fresh rain

36. Margarita mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Margarita'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Margarita mint is very distinctive, with leaves that range from various shades of green to bronze, purple, and yellow. They're puckered and deeply cupped at the midrib. The veins and margins of the leaves are a deeper mauve. There are fewer stems on this plant, but they're upright, vibrant, and healthy. The stems are thick and dark purple. This mint can send out multiple strong runner stems. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are a medium length, and the flowers are a gorgeous deep mauve and lilac. The blooms are more saturated in color than with most mints. This is a really stunning plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

6-12 inches (15-30 cm)

My scent notes

Salty and savory, earthy, smoky, slightly sweet; no menthol, very mild and creamy; low-key mintiness

37. Marley mint

Botanical name

Mentha spicata 'Marley'

Origin

From the herb garden at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica

Description

Marley mint can be somewhat sparse in growth habit. The leaves are very crinkled, bright lime green, serrated, puckered, cupping inward and pointed. They resemble those of Kentucky colonel spearmint. The stems are reddish and fairly sprawling. The flower spikes have blooms that are white with purple tips.

Hardiness

USDA zones 3-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

30 inches (76 cm)

My scent notes

Clean and fresh, with good spearmint flavor; sweetness is mild rather than overpowering; would be great in tea; refined and grown-up for a mint; elegant undertone of Earl Grey tea; grassy, new books, fresh spring air, clean laundry, fabric softener, good mint flavor, reclaimed wood; green leaves, tomato stem, umami, somewhat savory, but still sweet

38. Marshmallow mint

Botanical name

Mentha 'Marshmallow'

Origin

Developed by mint breeder Jim Westerfield

Description

Marshmallow mint has beautiful coloring with the center and base of each leaf in a light lime green, and the edges in a forest green. The stems, leaf veins, and margins range from green to fuchsia. The leaves are slightly wider at the base and taper to a very strong apex (tip). The plant is compact and vigorous with a shrub formation. The stems, while narrow, hold themselves up well. It's a really striking mint with the color variation on each leaf.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

My scent notes

Clean, mild blue mist, very fresh and mildly minty, pleasantly bracing, refreshing and cooling, fresh lake water, slight smokiness, clean mountain air, lush meadows, really enjoyable to smell, lovely nasal chill

39. Mojito mint

Botanical name

Mentha x villosa

Origin

Cuba

Description

Mojito mint has a classic spearmint appearance. The wrinkled leaves range from light yellow to kelly green. The leaf bases are wider, tapering to a point. The mature leaves are more rounded at the tips, with the new growth narrower and more pointed. The crenulations (scallops) are shallow, with cute little teeth. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are thick with light pink blooms. The stems are deep red, and strong, and splay outward. The plant sends new shoots throughout the soil surface. It's a robust and beautiful mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Fresh clean mint, sweet, delicious; sweetness comes right in through the fragrance; no menthol or tannin; just bright green fresh mint candy

40. Moroccan mint

Botanical name

Mentha spicata 'Moroccan'

Origin

North Africa in the mid-19th century

Description

Moroccan mint is an elegant spearmint. The vibrant deep green leaves are puckered. They're elliptical (oval-shaped) and fairly small, reaching a soft point at the tip. Some are narrower than others. The stems are burgundy variegated with green. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are at the growing tips of the stems. The stems can arch somewhat. This is a really special type of spearmint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

My scent notes

Amazing scent; a wonderful mint; good spearmint tea; sweet, classic mint, the best mint candy; perfect scent for desserts; really enjoyable to smell; great quality mint

41. Mountain mint, hairy

Botanical name

Pycnanthemum pilosum

Origin

Eastern/central US

Description

Hairy mountain mint has soft, matte-textured, pointed leaves. Some of them are more bluish green, and some are a more yellowish green. It's an interesting mix. The inflorescences are flattened with petals around the center. The flowers are speckled light, pink, and dark purple. It's an upright plant with an aesthetic shrub habit, and it sways gracefully in the wind. It's a great pollinator, and a lovely plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Medium quality soil, somewhat drought tolerant once established

Height

36 inches (90 cm)

My scent notes

Deep, vintage, mint, sage, light smokiness, deeply green, generations-old mountainside plants; freshest of cold mountain streams, sugarcane, so refreshing and enjoyably bracing; I can feel this slightly in my nose; mature, refined, elegant, freshly-chopped wood, aged cabin, amazing

42. Mountain mint, Virginia

virginia mountain mint plants with a bumblebee on top of one of the flowers

Botanical name

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Origin

Eastern US

Description

Virginia mountain mint is bluish green with very narrow, needle-like pointed leaves. Like with hairy mountain mint, it has flattened inflorescences (flowering structures), and the flowers are white with purple speckles and bloom around the edges. It has a bushing habit, with a graceful texture to the delicate arching stems. There's some internode space between the branches. It's not quite as full as the hairy mountain mint in structure, but it's beautiful and slightly taller than the than the hairy mountain mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 3-7

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Moist to average draining, tolerant of many soils

Height

36 inches (90 cm)

My scent notes

Refreshingly minty in a menthol nasal way; sage, campfire, old books, definitely smoky and savory; vintage collectibles, reclaimed wood, dusty attic, epazote, grilled vegetables, Mexican oregano, smoked hickory, mesquite, really interesting

43. Orange mint

Botanical name

Mentha aquatica 'Citrata'

Origin

Europe, Africa, and Asia

Description

Orange mint is one of my favorites in terms of growth habit. The leaves are slightly ovate, as they're wider at the base and have rounded tips. They have a satin texture. They're fairly flat with slight puckering at the veins. The margins of the leaves are a beautiful burgundy color as are the multiple stem runners. I find orange mint to be almost a climber, and it's capable of beautifully filling in a corner space.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Rain on fresh grass, new leaf, lemonade, sage, summer savory, epazote, oregano, mild sweetness, less minty, cedar balsam, blonde wood

44. Orange bergamot mint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita citrata 'Orange Bergamot'

Origin

Europe, Africa, and Asia

Description

Orange bergamot mint is fairly low growing. The leaves are a beautiful emerald green color and are fairly flat. The leaf margins and veining, especially at the growing tips, are burgundy in color. The flowers grow between the leaf nodes and proceed to the growing tips. This plant is sparse, low-growing, and the variegated green and burgundy stems are somewhat sprawling. The flower petals are a light purple lilac color.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Spiced oranges, intriguing and pleasant; fresh oranges, perfume, flowers, spice market, tropical cocktails, cardamom, black pepper, masala chai, ginger, garam masala, amchur; mildly minty, clean, uplifting, really pleasant

45. Peppermint

Botanical name

Mentha x piperita

Origin

Carol Linnaeus described this variety in 1753 from a plant species harvested in England; a cross between Mentha aquatica (water mint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint).

Description

Peppermint has distinctive cooling properties due to menthol. It's a handsome mint with deep kelly green leaves and purple veins and leaf margins of varying intensity. The shape of the leaves is ovate, wider at the base and reaching a gentle point with shallow serrations at the margins. The stems are green at the base and purple closer to the growing tips. It's a fairly densely-filled plant.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

My scent notes

Amazing, truly delightful, so sweet, clean, green, and minty; green and white peppermint candy, clean water, crisp winter breeze; icy, bracing, deeply impressive; pure high-quality amazing mint

46. Pineapple mint

Botanical name

Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'

Origin

Europe and Mediterranean region

Description

Pineapple mint has deeply-variegated, fuzzy leaves with lime green centers and off-white margins with a finely-scalloped edges. It's a fairly upright-growing mint. The inflorescences (flowering structures) are hairy, pink, and green. This is a beautiful and ornamental mint.

Hardiness

USDA zones 6-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Pineapple is surprisingly accurate; mango, mild mintiness, some tanginess, sourdough bread, curry, savory, creamy, fresh green plants, salty, savory, umami

47. Scotch mint

Botanical name

Mentha x gracilis

Origin

Scotland, from a natural cross between spearmint (Mentha spicata) and corn mint (Mentha arvensis)

Description

I've grown Scotch mint from 2 different vendors over the past few years, as I've also done above with the Balkan mint. In this case, I'm listing both Scotch mints under one numbered listing, since I don't have a photo to share of the one from Richters Herbs that I grew a few years ago. Here are descriptions of them both:

Richters Herbs: This version of Scotch mint has narrow, pointed leaves with shallow serrations. It has green stems, small lime green leaves, and attractive flowers growing between the leaf nodes. It has a medium height and sprawling form.

Ginger's Greenhouse: This Scotch mint is delicate-looking with small leaves. The stems are variegated from yellow to green to dark pink. The leaves are deeply serrated. Some of the margins and veins are dark pink, and some are white. The tiny leaves have a matte finish. The flowering inflorescences start between the leaf nodes and don't progress much further than the growing tip. It has runner stems.

Hardiness

USDA zones 5-9

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

My scent notes

Richter's Herbs: Beautifully clean and sweet; mint candy, invigorating, clean, rich, pure green mint, buttery smooth, classic and really impressive; like the best mint candy

Ginger's Greenhouse: Clean, fresh, icy mountain streams, mild mint, more spearmint than peppermint; young lettuces, cool clean rain, sweet minty tea, lime, marshmallow, vanilla, cool winter air, alpine grasses, permafrost, lichen, young mosses

48. Strawberry mint

strawberry mint plants in a planter with other planters nearby

Mentha x piperita 'Swiss'

Origin

Europe

Description

Swiss mint is a low-growing and densely-shaped, strong mint with medium green leaves that are narrow, serrated, and tapered to a point. They're flattish and imprinted (sunken) at the veins. The veins and margins of the leaves are a barely-discernible light purple. The stems are fairly delicate and arching, and are a variegated purple and green.

Hardiness

USDA zones 4-10

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil and moisture

Well-draining, moist soil with organic matter

Height

24-36 inches (60-90 cm)

My scent notes

Good quality mint gum, but with a weird different edge; old books, ripe fruit, honeydew melon, fresh grass clippings, aged parchment

51. Thai mint

Light

Full sun to part shade

Height

18-20 inches (45-50 cm)

My scent notes

Sage, catnip, winter savory, lemon, spring greens; mild menthol, oregano, soft, creamy, slight sweetness

❓Frequently asked questions

What is mint, and how many types of mint are there?

Mint is a member of a family of plants called Lamiaceae. The most common genus in this family is the beautiful and highly aromatic group Mentha, which includes most of the varieties in this post. Since 1753, there have been more than 3,000 names published within this group.

Beyond the Mentha "true mints," the broader Lamiaceae family also includes many other aromatic culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, sage, lemon balm, and mountain mint. (I've included more examples in the introduction.) Since mints hybridize easily, and with new cultivars in continuous selection, there's no fixed number of mint varieties.

What's the difference between peppermint, spearmint, and other mints?

Mints within the Mentha genus generally differ in their chemical composition. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) has a high menthol content, giving it a cooling sensation. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is sweeter with a gentler flavor, and contains little to no menthol. Other mints have a wide variation in characteristics. Their scent and flavor profiles are determined by the ratios of aromatic compounds such as pinene, cineole, limonene, and myrcene. It's differences like these that determine why some mints are better candidates for tea, cocktails, desserts, or savory dishes.

How do you grow mint successfully (and keep it under control)?

Most mints grow well in full sun to part shade, soil that's moist and well-draining, and a moderate level of fertility. Mint is an aggressive spreader via above-ground runners and underground rhizomes. So it's best grown in pots rather than in the ground. I like to grow mine in large pots in potting soil and compost, and to harvest the growing tips regularly. This encourages the plants to branch out and maintain bushy, rather than leggy growth.

Can you grow mint from seed or cuttings?

Most mints don't grow true from seed. The most reliable propagation uses techniques such as cuttings, runners, or divisions. It's simple to do stem cuttings yourself by rooting them in a glass of water or moist soil. And when roots appear, you can plant your cuttings and grow them as new plants. Or you can buy new seedlings from a trusted vendor. Please see my list of mint sources in the introduction to find the vendors I've used in this post.

Is mint safe for people and pets?

Culinary mints have been grown and consumed by humans for thousands of years. They're considered safe when consumed by people in typical culinary quantities. For pets, tolerance can vary by species and the type and form of the mint in question. Fresh mints leaves are sometimes tolerated in small amounts, while more concentrated types, such as essential oils, can pose health risks, particularly with pets like cats and dogs.

Before offering mint in any form to an animal, please consult with a veterinarian. This information is meant to be used generally, and is not meant to be taken as medical or veterinary advice. Always introduce plant material with caution and stop use if an animal shows any adverse reactions.