Mentha x piperita
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MEN-thah pip-er-EE-tah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Peppermint is an upright perennial herb that is a cross between wintermint and spearmint. It is most commonly grown as a culinary or medicinal herb and/or a ground cover. It spreads by rhizomes forming an attractive, though aggressive, ground cover.
It is tolerant of various light levels and soils except for dry ones but prefers rich moist soil in partial shade. It does best in neutral soils of 6.0-7.0 pH. It does surprisingly well in shadier sites, only needing a minimum of three hours of sun a day. Consider growing in a pot 12-16" wide to help control its aggressive spread. If planting in the ground, space plants 18" apart.
Use flowers and leaves fresh or dried in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, ice creams and mint sauce. Regularly pinching off the branch tips will promote bushier, leafier growth, increasing available harvest.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Mentha
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- teas, fragrance, potpourri
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Middle East
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer, rabbit, wet soil
- Edibility:
- Leaves and flowers can be used in tea and flavoring for various dishes.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- If fruit, if set, is a dried calyx that contains 4 ovoid, smooth brown nutlets.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Terminal spikes of small pink to lavender tubular flowers in a dense whorl-like cylindric terminal spike, obtuse at the tip and sometimes interrupted on the stem. Stamens are extended. Blooms in summer and rarely set seed.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The lance-shaped green leaves are 1-2 inches long and 1/2 as wide. The margins are unequally toothed and the tip is acute. Undersides are gland-dotted and have fine hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems are square, reddish-green and may have fine hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Foot Traffic
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
