Mentha spicata. Compared to peppermint, spearmint has a less aggressive flavour that has fruity undertones. This mint is easy to grow, and it's fast, too. In boggy settings it can spread by underground rhizome, but this is easy to control by growing it in containers. The leaves dry well and even fresh they make a nice tea — an even nicer mojito. Sow the seeds indoors a month or two before the last frost date, and transplant out when night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Ninety days later, expect white to lilac flowers that are both edible and highly attractive to bees. This mint is perennial and hardy to Zone 4.
Details
Botanical Name
Mentha spicata
Common Name
Spearmint
Hardiness Zone
- 4
Appearance
Max Height
Max Spread
Plant Form
- Upright
Foliage Colour
- Green
Fall Colour
Flower Colour
- White
- Lilac
Edible
Edible
- YES
Edible Component
- Leaf
- Flower
Edible Harvest Period
Edible Use
- Fresh Eating
- Drying
- Tea
Fruit Colour
- Green
- White
- Lilac
Growing
Flowering Period
Moisture
Sunlight
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Maintenance
Deer Resistance
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