Spearmint in bloom

Credit: Gertjan van Noord

Mentha spicata foliage

Credit: IES Canarias Instituto

Spearmint in pot

Credit: KSF

Spearmint foliage

Credit: Lord Astral

Mentha spicata flower

Credit: Peter de Lange

Mentha spicata, spearmint

Its color and smell are as reminiscent of American chewing gum as they are of Moroccan tea. No wonder! While spearmint, in Latin Mentha spicata, is endemic from the tip of Finistère to China, this plant of the Lamiaceae family is widely cultivated in the United States and northern Africa.

How to recognize spearmint (Mentha spicata)?

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is an upright herbaceous perennial. It can reach a meter in height.

Mentha spicata's trailing rhizomes enable it to spread rapidly and over large areas.

The green, square stem bears sessile leaves. They are lanceolate, up to eight centimetres long and have toothed margins. The bright green blades are deeply veined and pubescent on the underside. The aromatic evergreen foliage exudes a sweet, almost lemony fragrance.

The flowers are also fragrant. The pink or mauve flower spikes attract bees and pollinating insects.

Spearmint is not a toxic plant. Unlike mint Pouliot pulegium), it is used in cooking to flavor drinks and dishes, and in traditional medicine for its tonic and antispasmodic virtues.

Our maintenance tips

Green mints are very invasive. We advise against planting them in the ground. Plant them in pots to prevent the roots from spreading. If you wish, you can bury the pot.

Watering

When the soil has dried on the surface, you can water. Use non-calcareous water at room temperature, such as rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use tap water that you've left to stand.

Drain off any water that collects in the planter or dish. It can rot the roots.

Repotting

Soak the root ball for a few minutes to rehydrate the roots. Then get a perforated pot and pour in a drainage layer (clay balls or gravel).

On top of this, add a light, rich substrate, such as potting soil for herbs. Place the root ball in the center of the pot, then fill in with potting soil, packing lightly around the plant.

Finish by watering generously: mint appreciates humidity and this will help it to take root.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Mentha spicata, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Use a fertilizer for aromatic plants to stimulate growth. Follow the dosage prescribed by the manufacturer to avoid damaging roots or foliage.

Harvest

Cut a stem about 15 centimeters long and remove the leaves. They can be eaten fresh or dried.

Prune

Cut flowers to prevent seeds from spreading.

Using clean pruning shears or a pair of scissors, cut back the stems to 10 cm above the ground to encourage plant renewal.

Plantation

Soak your Spearmint to rehydrate the roots.

Meanwhile, dig a hole three times the size of the root ball. Green mints can spread where you least expect it. Install a root barrier to prevent the roots from invading your entire garden.

Plant your Spearmint. The root ball should be level with the ground. Fill in with a mixture of universal potting soil and garden soil. Water to encourage growth.

Your Spearmint likes humidity. You can mulch the base to keep the soil cool and limit watering.

Cutting

Carefully remove one of the plants from the ground at Spearmint. Cut the root ball into several parts using your hands and a clean, sharp tool.

Pour a drainage layer (clay balls, gravel) into a pierced pot adapted to the size of your cutting. Then add potting soil for herbs.

Plant your Spearmint. Tamp gently and water to encourage rooting.

Disease / Threat

Slugs

Information

Family	Lamiaceae - Lamiaceae
Type	Mint - Mentha
Species	Spearmint - Mentha spicata
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs Planter
Categories	Rhizome Herbaceous
Tags	Beginner Invasive Increvable Medicinal
Origins	Western Asia South Asia East Asia Northern Europe Eastern Europe Southern Europe Western Europe
Hardiness (USDA)	5b
Leaf color
Flower colors