Mints

Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate’)

Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Description

All the members of the MenthaI family have that characteristic minty smell and square stems with oppositely arranged leaves and many small flowers loved by all the pollinators. They generally stay within a foot or two to the ground, especially with frequent pinching of the terminal buds to promote more bushy growth.

These mints are vigorous growers, and can easily spread by rhizomes if left to their own devices, so keep that in mind when choosing a location and be sure to keep on top of harvesting them. Mints are very container friendly!

That being said, they are absolutely delicious, and can be used fresh in drinks or as a garnish, blended into spreads and sauces for a refreshing summer schmear, or dried and used as tea or dried herb. Andy drinks chocolate mint tea almost every morning; it pairs very well with the Anise Hyssop!

Mints make great aromatic support plants for the more tender plants that deer and rabbits like to eat, and can be used to offer some protection to trees and shrubs. Most rodents will generally not cross through a patch of mint, so it can be planted around the base of trees to prevent girdling of the bark, and can be used as an element in a living fence.

We offer different sized bundles of root/rhizome mass which can be planted as a bunch for a vigorous patch or further divided for multiple smaller patches. Even small sections of rhizome are able to root and establish new plants, and with time they can all grow to be quite strong.

Site Preference

Pretty much anywhere. More sun = faster growth

Hardiness

Zone 3