(Mentha ‘piperita’)
Peppermint is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and central Asia but can be commonly found growing in wetlands and along streams throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' and features 1-2” dark green, toothed, lance-shape, aromatic leaves and terminal spikes that bare small pinkish/lavender flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees and butterflies, repels ants, aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, squash bugs, and white flies, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is sued to make essential oils and potpourri, its leaves are used to repel rodents, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
Genus: Mentha
Species: ‘piperita’
Variety: Peppermint
Native to: Altay, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kirgizstan, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Sicilia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia.
Introduced into: Alabama, Alaska, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arkansas, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Bermuda, Brazil South, British Columbia, California, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central European Rus, Chile Central, Chile North, Colorado, Connecticut, Cuba, Delaware, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, East European Russia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Is., Fiji, Florida, Galápagos, Georgia, Gilbert Is., Haiti, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Libya, Louisiana, Madeira, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Norfolk Is., North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Québec, Rhode I., Society Is., South Carolina, South European Russi, Spain, Tennessee, Texas, Tunisia, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): July to August
Hardiness: Hardy. Mint goes dormant in cold weather and can withstand most frost.
Crops: Spring Transplant
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm. Mint prefers cool, moist conditions. You may want to grow it in containers to prevent it from becoming invasive in the garden.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 85°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 55°F. There's no advantage to starting your seeds in cold soil, so wait until it's warmed up a little, to at least 60˚F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: No
Light: Full sun to part shade. Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot). Mint prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade as well.
Water: Medium to wet. Mint likes to be moist at all times.
Feeder: Light. These plants grow best in rich soil, but almost any soil will do.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Needs summer shade
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. A great container plant--it's even preferred by most gardeners! When growing in confined spaces, Mint should be divided regularly, to prevent overcrowding. The best way to grow it is in a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom cut out, sunk into the ground to within 2 or 3" of the rim.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes
Maintenance: Medium
Plant Height: 24-36"
Spacing: 10-12"
Sow Depth: 1/4"
Produces: 1-2” dark green, toothed, lance-shape, aromatic leaves and terminal spikes that bare small pinkish/lavender flowers.
USDA Grow Zone: 3-9
Garden Uses: Herb gardens. Naturalize as a ground cover in moist informal areas such as pond/water garden margins or low open woodland areas.
Seed Viability in Years: 2 - 4 years
Classic peppermint flavor.
Culinary Use:
Mint is perfect for flavoring sauces, cocktails, fresh on salads or as a garnish, or made into tea.
Leaves: raw or cooked. A strong peppermint flavor, they are used as a flavoring in salads or cooked foods. This plant should not be used by pregnant women. An essential oil from the leaves and flowers is used as a flavoring in sweets, chewing gum, ice cream etc. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves.
Companions: Mint repels Aphids, Cabbage Looper, Flea Beetles, Squash Bugs, Whiteflies. Plant with Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Broccoli and Kale. It is notoriously invasive, so don't allow it free rein in your garden. If you want to grow mint around your crops, plant it in pots and set the pots near the plants you want to protect. Place a saucer beneath the pot to prevent the roots from creeping into the garden soil.
Enemies: Parsley or Chamomile.
Nutrition
The Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea
Relieves Headaches: You can steep peppermint leaves into a tea and drink it to relieve a headache. It is also effective against headaches caused by stress or a poor diet. Not just the tea of the peppermint leaves, but the aroma of peppermint oil helps in treating a headache. They elevate the constricted blood vessels in the brain and thereby promote relaxation.
Weight Loss: Peppermint tea aids in weight loss. Research also suggests that the aroma of peppermint tea can help you control your appetite, so you can reduce overeating, and subsequently, prevent obesity.
Treats Sinus: As an antispasmodic, it can relieve you of the irritating sensation that makes you want to cough. According to studies peppermint is also able to soothe the respiratory tract and treat sinus. By relaxing the muscles of the throat and chest, it eliminates the symptoms of cold and flu.
Promotes Sleep: Peppermint is caffeine-free, so people who suffer from sensitive sleep patterns like to drink this relaxing tea before bed. A cup of peppermint tea before bed can also help with insomnia.
Reduces Mental Stress: The natural sedative or antispasmodic nature of menthol helps you get instant relief from mental stress. Caffeine-free peppermint tea can reduce your blood pressure and body temperature, allowing you to unwind and relax and letting your stress melt away.
This is part of the reason why peppermint oil for aromatherapy is so popular, and the effects of peppermint tea are similar in nature.
Improves Stomach Health: Research conducted by many universities have suggested that peppermint oil and peppermint tea have been used for thousands of years to sort out a variety of digestive and stomach ailments. Archaeological evidence actually shows peppermint being used for 10,000 years as a dietary supplement.
You can use organic peppermint tea bags as they are considered a carminative because they help move gas through the body as it accumulates. This tea also stimulates bile flow to increase the rate and efficiency of digestion and promote healthy bowel movements.
A study on herbal remedies for non-ulcer dyspepsia carried out by Dr. J. Thompson Coon, School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, UK, mentions peppermint as a very important food that can reduce inflammation in the stomach.
Treats Indigestion: Peppermint tea is not only a carminative but also an analgesic substance, so it reduces the associated pain of cramps, bloating, and indigestion. This is due to its calming effect on the intestines and muscles of the digestive tract. Diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation can be cured with this tea, as it brings the entire system to optimal activity levels.
Boosts Immunity: In 2010, research on the antioxidant properties of Mentha species revealed that peppermint is a natural antioxidant, which makes it a great aid for strengthening the immune system. Peppermint tea also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties against pathogens and bacteria, which are the root cause of illnesses like fever and cough.
Not only can drinking this delicious tea helps treat the symptoms of being ill but also prevents your body from getting sick. There are also trace elements of vitamin B, potassium, antioxidants, and calcium, which help your body uptake nutrients to fight off illnesses and perform necessary functions to keep it working in a healthy way.
Reduces Fever: When we think of the sharp, cool effect of menthol, we don’t always think of a hot cup of tea. However, pure peppermint tea has menthol as a main component, so drinking the tea can cause external sweating, while the menthol cools down your body internally. This can essentially break a fever and reduce the associated inflammation and discomfort.
Prevents Nausea & Vomiting: When it comes to being sick, few things are as unpleasant as being nauseous. A 2010 study conducted on the effects of Mentha piperita or peppermint essential oil on the tracheal smooth muscle of rats concluded that peppermint tea is an antispasmodic.
It, therefore, has the ability to reduce the chances of vomiting and nausea, even in the case of motion sickness on a boat or a plane. Also, natural peppermint reduces stomachache and queasiness associated with motion sickness.
Reduces Menstrual Cramps: Due to the anti-spasmodic effects of peppermint tea, it helps in relieving the constricted muscles in the uterus and alleviates menstrual cramps for women going through dysmenorrhea or PMS.
Removes Bad Breath: According to a 2014 study, the strong, mentholated flavor and antibacterial quality of organic peppermint tea leaves can help to improve your breath. The antibacterial element kills the germs that can lead to halitosis, while menthol in the tea overwhelms the foul smell and leaves your breath fresh and clean!
Protects Heart Health: A recent study on the effects of peppermint extract stated that peppermint extract can lower the bad LDL cholesterol levels. This helps you reduce your chances of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.
Word of Caution: Though peppermint tea is powerful and offers a wide range of health benefits, there are still some possible side effects of having this tea.
The menthol can act as an allergen to some people and cause heartburn in others. Both of the reactions are typically mild but consulting a doctor about possible allergies is always a good idea. Besides that, grab some peppermint leaves and get brewing!
Suggested Varieties
(Brassica oleracea 'Early Jersey Wakefield')
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to England, but was first grown in the United States in 1840 by Francis Brill of Jersey City. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features dark-green, conical heads averaging 5" in diameter and weighing 2 to 3 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbits safe (in moderation), can be used as a trap crop for aphids, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Brassica oleracea 'Late Flat Dutch')
Late Flat Dutch Cabbage is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to the Netherlands, but was first offered in the United States by D. M. Ferry & Company in 1924. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features blue-green flat 12” heads that weigh up to 15 pounds. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, can be used as a trap crop for aphids, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Brassica oleracea 'Red Acre')
Red Acre Cabbage is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to southern Europe, but is commonly grown in the northern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features reddish purple round heads that weight up to 3 pounds. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, can be used as a trap crop for aphids, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Brassica rapa 'Pak Choi')
Pak Choi Chinese Cabbage is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to southern China, but has been commercially grown in the United States for more than 100 years. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-18” and features a head of smooth, dark green leaves with thick white stalks. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, can be used as a trap crop for aphids, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Amana Orange')
Amana Orange Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather perennial vegetable that is native to Iowa, where it was named by Gary Staley after the Amana Colonies of Amana, Iowa. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features globe shaped, reddish orange beefsteak indeterminate tomatoes that average 1-2 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefsteak')
Beefsteak Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to New York, where it was bred by Peter Henderson in 1894. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 36-60” and features indeterminate, globe shaped, slightly ribbed red tomatoes that average 1-2 pounds. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Green Zebra')
Green Zebra Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Washington, where it was bred by Tom Wagner in 1983. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features indeterminate, globe shaped greenish yellow tomatoes striped with green, averaging 3-5 ounces. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Sweetie Cherry')
Sweetie Cherry Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States, where it was first introduced by the Petoseed Company in 1980. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 72-96” and features indeterminate, clusters of round red cherry tomatoes that average 1" in diameter. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Yellow Pear')
Yellow Pear Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Europe, but was first introduced to North America by the Hudson Bay Company of Vancouver, Canada. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features indeterminate, pear shaped, low acid yellow tomatoes that average 1 ounce. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Brassica oleracea 'Purple Vienna')
Purple Vienna Kohlrabi is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to northern Europe, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features a 2 1/2" deep purple bulb that have a white flesh and rosette-shaped, dark green leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, and is edible!
(Brassica oleracea 'Calabrese Green Sprouting')
Calabrese Green Sprouting Broccoli is an Italian heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but brought to America by the D'Arrigo brothers between 1904-11, and first offered to the public in 1923. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 30-36” and features erect stalks, 6” bluish-green centered floret, multiple side shoots, and yellow flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, and is edible.
(Brassica oleracea 'Purple Sprouting')
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Purple Sprouting Broccoli is an Italian heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but was introduced to the United States not long after they were listed in the French Vilmorin-Andrieux seed catalog in 1885. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-36” and features thin stem, side shoots of loose clusters of 3-5” purple florets, and bladed leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, is rabbit safe, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Brassica oleracea 'Waltham 29')
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Waltham 29 Broccoli is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to Waltham, MA., where it was developed by the University of Massachusetts in 1950. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features a 4-6” blue-green central broccoli head, and side shoots that bare 1” florets. This plant can be grown in a container, is rabbit safe, tolerates frost, and is edible.
(Brassica oleracea 'Lacinato')
Lacinato Kale is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Italy, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States since 1669. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-36" and features wrinkled dark green leaves up to 2' in height. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, is rabbit safe, and is edible!
(Brassica oleracea 'Ornamental')
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Ornamental Kale is a hybrid, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Europe, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features frilly green outer leaves and pink, white or purple centers. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, is rabbit safe, and is edible!
(Brassica Oleracea 'Red Russian')
Red Russian Kale is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Europe, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-30” and features grayish green leaves with purple veins. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, is rabbit safe, and is edible!