Mentha × piperita – Peppermint - Culinary Herbs

Add to your cooking, teas and garden with the fresh scent and flavour of this peppermint mint. Fully hardy throughout Europe, withstanding temperatures below -20°C.

I know it can't just be me who dreams of a kitchen garden, growing my own food and a greater level of self-sufficiency. One of the easiest ways into growing your own is herbs and, honestly, I don't think you can go far wrong with this one. Fresh mint smells fantastic and tastes even better, whether it's in your cooking, in your tea or finessing a cake. This hybrid variety is a cross between watermint and spearmint, and is the type of mint in most common use. Plus, mint is easy to grow, indoors or out - though it is advisable to grow in a pot, even outdoors, so it can't take over you whole garden. And if it all disappears over winter, don't worry - it will most likely be back in spring more vigorous than ever.

Scientific Name
Mentha × piperita (mint hybrid with pepperlike species)

Common Name
Peppermint, Brandy Mint, Lily-Rail

Origin
Native to mainland Europe and Asia

Pruning Tips
Cut back after flowering; regularly harvesting will also help keep it trim. Flowering can reduce the flavour of the leaves, so cut regularly to prevent flowering if you want to keep your mint consistent.

Wildlife Value
Provides nectar for butterflies (Mentha spp. is on Butterfly Conservation's Top Nectar Plants), and food for moth caterpillars (especially the Mint Moth and Beautiful Plume Moth). Mints are also popular with bees, and this mint's lilac flowers are no exception!

Positioning
Sun or shade, exposed or sheltered, your mint will grow wherever you keep it.

Water
Keep the soil moist; keep an eye out especially on outdoor containers in dry weather. Your mint will dramatically wilt when it's thirsty, and perk back up after a drink, so look out for this communication!

Soil
Soils that hold plenty of moisture, such as clay or loam soils, will work best here.

Food
Your mint likes rich, fertile soil best, so an annual top-up of compost will help keep it happy.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic to cats and dogs, though it is tasty for humans!

Sprouts Top Tips
Mint is great as a first herb to grow because it's so easygoing and will come back year on year. But be aware- it will spread wherever it can. Make sure when planting out that you restrict root growth or plant in a container - unless you're happy with a whole garden full, that is!
Don't grow two different types of mint in the same container as their flavours will merge and become the same.

Extras
This mint species is a hybrid of watermint, Mentha aquatica, and spearmint, Mentha spicata.