- Botanical name: Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Chocolate'
- Common name: Chocolate mint
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herb, Perennial
Purple
Bronze
Green
- Key features:
- Aromatic foliage
- Attractive to wildlife
Mint brings 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.
Mentha × piperita f. citrata is a hybrid of watermint Mentha aquatica and spearmint Mentha spicata. It has dark green leaves with a minty orange fragrance and flavour. Forma citrata has a citrus fragrance, while ‘Chocolate’ has a more chocolatey scent.
Whorls of small, lilac flowers appear in summer, which are particularly attractive to pollinators.
Sow seeds of chocolate mint 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, and plant them out in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
How to grow Mentha 'Chocolate'
-
Plant size
40cm height
40cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do Prune in July |
A
Do Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Harvest | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
J
Do not Harvest in January |
F
Do not Harvest in February |
M
Do not Harvest in March |
A
Do not Harvest in April |
M
Do Harvest in May |
J
Do Harvest in June |
J
Do Harvest in July |
A
Do Harvest in August |
S
Do Harvest in September |
O
Do Harvest in October |
N
Do not Harvest in November |
D
Do not Harvest in December |
Mentha 'Chocolate' and wildlife
Mentha 'Chocolate' is known for attracting bees, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Mentha 'Chocolate' poisonous?
Mentha 'Chocolate' can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Mentha 'Chocolate'
