gardener can well find a favorite eccentric of mint to turn because there ’s so much variety among these plant . Classified in the genusMentha , mint plants belong to the plant life kinsperson Lamiaceae , which includes other fragrant herb as well as certain ornamental plants .
- There are about 20 species of mint plants as well as numerous intercrossed crosses and cultivar . * * Even though mint is a flowering flora , which benefits pollinators , most gardeners grow it because of the fragrant and flavorful leaves that check essential oil used for culinary , medicinal and aromatherapy purpose .
Shared Characteristics of Different Kinds of Mint Plants
With so much variety in folio soma , size , color and grain , there are also legion common attributes among different kind of mint plants . For deterrent example :
characteristic hearty base .
byrhizomatous moon curser .
The last two feature contribute to the invasive potential difference of mint .
Warning
Because of how apace it circulate , you may want to plant mint in a container to keep it confined rather of in your flowerbed where it may overtake your other plants .
Native Types of Mint Plants
Two type of hatful plant that are North American natives are barbarian mint , also called battlefield mess or gingermint ( Menthaxgentilis ) , and water mint ( Mentha aquatica ) , both of which are perennials in USDA geographical zone 5 to 9 .
pattern of green and yellow .
purplish cast , and the foliage may be haired or smooth . True to its common name , body of water mint may grow in streams , ditches , fen or wet hayfield where it speedily spreads .
Other Types of Mint Plants
Let ’s take a look at a handful of other types of mint plants and their leaves .
Spearmint and Peppermint
Two of the most commonly uprise type of mickle plant life are Mentha spicata ( Mentha spicata , zones 4 to 11 ) and peppermint ( Menthaxpiperita , zones 5 to 9 ) .
Unlike most types of mint plants , which have hairy leaves , spearminthas smooth leaves with few to no pilus . blossom may be pinkish or white .
Peppermintis a naturally occurring hybrid of the native water heap and spearmint . Its blue dark-green leaves have characteristic toothed margins , and it produces pinkish or lilac-colored flowers .
“Fruity” Mint Plants
" Fruity " names of mint plants include apple mint ( Mentha suaveolens ) , lemon mint ( Menthaxpiperitaf.citrata ) and pineapple muckle ( Mentha suaveolens’Variegata ' ) , all of which are perennials in hardiness zones 5 through 9 .
Apple minthas light green leaves and pink or whitened flowers;lemon minthas dark unripened leaves with lavender flowers ; andpineapple minthas variegated folio that are pale green with white leeway , although some leave may be satisfying green or solid snowy . Pineapple great deal ’s flowers also vary in color , including shades of white , pink , lavender and purpleness .
Chocolate Mint
Although orchard apple tree , Citrus limon and pineapple pile types have a minty flavor mixed with the type of fruit in their common names , chocolate mint ( Menthaxpiperitaf.citrata’Chocolate ' ) does n’t taste like its name hints .
The word " burnt umber " in its vernacular name refers to its umber John Brown stanch and a breath of cocoa scent , but it has a minty , citrusy taste .
Tip
Cut mint when the parting are dry , which intend not only wait for a ironic period after rain outcome but also look until the dew dries on plants .
Tips for Harvesting Mint Leaves
Harvest individual mint leave or sprigs any time during the growing time of year . If you ’re lead off from come or start from small transplanting , wait to harvest until the roots have taken grasp and plant are at least several inches improbable .
you’re able to cut stems to within 1 column inch of the footing , but quash cut all the stems on a plant so that there is enough remaining foliage to stay on photosynthesizing .
