(Mentha Pulegium ‘European’)

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European Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Northern Africa but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-12” and features hairy stems, mint scented, lance-shape, toothed leaves, and small lilac to pinkish-purple colored flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, makes essential oils, leaves are used as a rodent repellent, and is both edible and medicinal! 

  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Other Uses
  • Companion Planting
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Family: Lamiaceae

Genus: Mentha 
​
Species: pulegium

Variety: European Pennyroyal

Also Known As: Pennyrile, Squaw mint, Mosquito plant and Pudding grass.
 
Native to: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russi, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Ukraine, Yugoslavia.

Introduced into: Amsterdam-St.Paul Is, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, California, Chile Central, Juan Fernández Is., New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Uruguay, West Himalaya.

Ease of Growing: Easy

Grown As: Perennial

Maturity (Blooms): Mid Summer

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
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Water: Medium

Soil Moisture: Moist, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.5

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees, Butterflies, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies. 

Containers: Yes

Height: 6-12”
 
Spacing: 18-24”

Sow Depth: 1/8"
 
USDA Zone: 5-9
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Produces: hairy stems, mint scented, lance-shape, toothed leaves, and small lilac to pinkish-purple colored flowers.
Sow your seeds in late winter or early spring. Pennyroyal seeds require light to germinate, so only lightly cover the flower seeds. Lightly press the herb seeds into the soil and keep moist. Germination should occur in 7 - 21 days.
In late spring, after danger of frost has passed, plant outdoors 18-24" apart. Water regularly the first year of establishment. Once the plant has matured, little watering is necessary and no fertilizer. To create bushy plants, pinch back the tips of young Pennyroyal herb plants. Every three years the plants should be divided and replanted in fresh compost to maintain healthy growth.
The leaves are harvested in the summer as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use.
Leaves: raw or cooked. Used as a flavoring in salads or cooked foods. A spearmint-like flavor, though rather coarser, it is not used very often in Britain.

​A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves.
Pennyroyal has been used for centuries in herbal medicine. Its main value is as a digestive tonic where it increases the secretion of digestive juices and relieves flatulence and colic. Pennyroyal also powerfully stimulates the uterine muscles and encourages menstruation, thus it should not be prescribed for pregnant women since it can procure abortions, this is especially the case if the essential oil is used. The herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, sedative and stimulant. A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, minor respiratory infections, digestive disorders, menstrual complaints and various minor ailments. It is occasionally used as a treatment for intestinal worms. Externally, an infusion is used to treat itchiness and formication, inflamed skin disorders such as eczema and rheumatic conditions such as gout. The leaves are harvested in the summer as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use. The essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic, though it is toxic in large doses.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
​Herbal insect repellents. The plant was used in homes as a strewing herb and has also been spread in granaries to keep the rodents off the grain.

An essential oil is obtained from the whole plant, used in soap making and as a cleanser for fabrics.

A strong infusion applied to the face will keep gnats away in the summer.

The aromatic leaves are used as an ingredient of pot-pourri.
A good companion for growing near cabbages and tomatoes. The growing or dried plant repels fleas, ants, moths, mice etc. Rats and mice intensely dislike the smell of mint.

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