Position

Sun exposure:
Dappled shade, full sun
Aspect:
South facing, west facing
Position in border:
Front

Soil

Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

Mint is native to Europe but is naturalised throughout the globe, and has been cultivated for its medicinal uses for thousands of years. It's thought that the Romans introduced it to Britain.

These days, mint is used mostly as a culinary herb, adding a fresh, summery flavour to salads, sauces, summer dishes and drinks. It's easy to grow and, being perennial, comes back every year. There are many varieties to choose from, each with a distinctive flavour. Best grown in pots in a sunny spot, it's a good idea to grow at least a couple of mint varieties in order to add variety and interest to dishes.

Curly mint, Mentha spicata var. crispa, is a creeping mint, bearing frilled peppermint-flavoured leaves on strong stems. Plants produce clusters of small, lilac flowers in summer, which are particularly attractive to pollinators.

Sow seeds indoors or under glass, from spring to early summer. When all risk of frost has passed, harden the plants off by gradually acclimatising them to outdoor conditions, then plant them out in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. If grown in the right spot, mint plants will last for several years.

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sowyesyesyes
Plantyesyesyesyesyes
Flowersyesyes
Divideyesyesyesyesyes
Take cuttingsyesyes
Pruneyesyesyes

Mentha and wildlife

Mentha has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.

Is Mentha poisonous?

Mentha can be toxic.

Toxic to:
Is known to attract Cats
Cats
Is known to attract Dogs
Dogs
No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Horses
Horses
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
Plants that go well with Mentha spicata
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