Easy to grow. Mint leaves have a pleasant scent and taste. Varieties of peppermint like ‘After Eight’ have a chocolatey fragrance. Applemint has soft leaves.
Purpose: mint can be used in salads or to make a tea. Peppermint can be chopped and sprinkled over vanilla ice cream. The scent stimulates the senses and helps ease tension.
Sensory appeal
Sight
Flowers in summer
Scent
The leaves release a fresh, minty scent when lightly rubbed between the fingers
Taste
Edible leaves and flowers
Touch
Leaves can be gently rubbed to release fragrance
Quick facts
Height
0.5-1m
Spread
1-1.5m
Flower colour
Pink, mauve or pale purple
Season of interest
Spring-autumn
Plant type
Herbaceous
Hardiness
Hardy
Life cycle
Perennial
How to grow
Start from
Plants or root cuttings
Light
Full sun, part shade
Soil
Moist but well-drained
Planting distance
Grow in individual pots to prevent the plant from spreading and to maintain good flavour
Care and maintenance
General
Pinch out growing tips to use in cooking. Mint can become invasive, so grow in a pot.
Propagation
Easy to propagate by division or root cuttings – take a small section of root and plant in a pot of fresh compost
