Spearmint
This variety has aromatic leaves that are used for flavoring in many foods; lilac flowers rise above in late summer; great container plant and it is suggested that planting within a pot in the ground will curtail invasiveness
Attracts,Pollinators, Butterflies
Brand,
Brand,
Botanical Name,
Bulb Size,
Bulbs per Package,
Deer Resistant,Yes
Evergreen or Deciduous,
Family,
Family Name,Mint
Flower Color,
Bloom Time,Late Summer
Foliage Color,Green
Genus,
Genus Name,Mentha
Model,
Tomato Class,
Tomato Type,
Weather,
Days to Emerge,
Days to Maturity,
Edible,Yes
Features,
Growth Rate,Fast
Hardiness,
Hardiness Zone,3a
Harvest Season,Late Spring to Early Fall
Landscape Uses,Massing, Garden, Herb, Container
Light Needs,Full Sun, Partial Shade
Mature Height,24 inches
Mature Width,3 feet
Prune Time,Cut Back In Fall
Self Pollinating,
Water Needs,Average to Moist
Waterwise,
Essentials for Success
For flourishing plants, use potting soil for potted plants or planting mix for garden beds paired with Root Zone starter fertilizer is the perfect duo to foster robust root growth and minimize transplant shock.
Details
Edible Qualities
Spearmint is a perennial herb that is typically grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The fragrant oval green leaves are usually harvested from late spring to early fall. The leaves have a minty taste.
The leaves are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Cooking
- Seasoning
- Tea
Features
Spearmint features bold spikes of lilac purple tubular flowers with white overtones rising above the foliage in late summer. Its attractive fragrant oval leaves remain green in color throughout the season.
This is an herbaceous perennial herb with a spreading, ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:
- Invasive
Aside from its primary use as an edible, Spearmint is sutiable for the following landscape applications:
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Herb Gardens
- Container Planting
Care
Planting & Growing
Spearmint will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.
This plant is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated herb garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.
Spearmint is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
