Types of Mint

Mint

               Mint is a fast-growing, aromatic herb plant in the Methane genus. There are literally hundreds of mint plant varieties and far too many to name here. However, a number of these mint types are commonly grown in the garden. Keep reading for information on how to grow some of these different varieties of mint.
Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial herbs. They have wide-spreading underground and overground stolons and erect, square, branched stems. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, from oblong to Lancelot, often downy, and with a serrated margin. Leaf colors range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue, and sometimes pale yellow. The flowers are white to purple and produced in false whorls called verticillasters. The corolla is two-lipped with four sub equal lobes, the upper lobe usually the largest. The fruit is a nut let, containing one to four seeds, the name has a romantic and scandalous Greek story behind it! Hades, the God of the Underworld, fell in love with Minthe (or Menthe), a river nymph. When Persephone, Hades’s wife, found out, she turned Minthe into a plant, so that everyone would walk all over her and crush her. Unable to undo the spell, Hades gave Minthe a magnificent aroma so that he could smell her and be near her when people trod on her.
Mint descends from the Latin word mentha, which is rooted in the Greek word minthe, personified in Greek mythology as Minthe, a nymph who was transformed into a mint plant, and reflex of a proto-Indo-European root whence also Sanskrit -mantha, mathana (premna serratifolia).

Types of Mint for the Garden

• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Pineapple mint
• Apple mint (Woolly mint)
• Penny royal Mint
• Ginger mint
• Horse mint
• Red Raripila mint
• Nepeta or Catmint
• Bergamot mint or Orange mint
• Lavender mint
• Grapefruit mint
• Calamint
• Licorice mint
• Basil mint
• Corn or Field mint

Peppermint

Peppermint generally grows best in moist, shaded locations, and expands by underground rhizomes. Young shoots are taken from old stocks and dibbled into the ground about 1.5 feet apart. They grow quickly and cover the ground with runners if it is permanently moist. For the home gardener, it is often grown in containers to restrict rapid spreading. It grows best with a good supply of water, without being water-logged, and planted in areas with part-sun to shade.
The leaves and flowering tops are used; they are collected as soon as the flowers begin to open and can be dried. The wild form of the plant is less suitable for this purpose, with cultivated plants having been selected for more and better oil content. They may be allowed to lie and wilt a little before distillation, or they may be taken directly to the still.
Fresh or dried peppermint leaves are often used alone in peppermint tea or with other herbs in herbal teas (tisanes, infusions). Peppermint is used for flavoring ice cream, candy, fruit preserves, alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, toothpaste, and some shampoos, soaps and skin care products.
Menthol activates cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the skin and mucosal tissues, and is the primary source of the cooling sensation that follows the topical application of peppermint oil.

Spearmint

Spearmint, also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint,
Spearmint grows well in nearly all temperate climates. Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive, spreading rhizomes.
Spearmint leaves can be used fresh, dried, or frozen. They can also be preserved in salt, sugar, sugar syrup, alcohol, or oil. The leaves lose their aromatic appeal after the plant flowers. It can be dried by cutting just before, or right (at peak) as the flowers open, about one-half to three-quarters the way down the stalk (leaving smaller shoots room to grow). Some dispute exists as to what drying method works best; some prefer different materials (such as plastic or cloth) and different lighting conditions (such as darkness or sunlight).
Spearmint leaves are infused in water to make spearmint tea. Spearmint is an ingredient of Maghrebi mint tea. Grown in the mountainous regions of Morocco, this variety of mint possesses a clear, pungent, but mild aroma. Spearmint is an ingredient in several mixed drinks, such as the mojito and mint julep. Sweet tea, iced and flavored with spearmint, is a summer tradition in the Southern United States.

Pineapple mint

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Pineapple mint has variegated foliage, setting it apart from most other mint varieties. Its slightly elongated, ovate leaves are bright green and bordered in a creamy white margin. They are deeply veined and coarse in texture with a layer of fine hairs like those of its parent species, Apple mint. Pineapple mint is a highly aromatic, with sweet tropical notes and minty citrus finish.
Pineapple mint is most often used in fresh applications as its delicate aromas are lost when cooked. Use the tender young leaf tops as a garnish for desserts or main dishes in Caribbean and Polynesian cooking. Use the larger more coarse leaves to infuse oils and syrups or steeped in an aromatic tea. Pineapple mint may be substituted for mint in cocktails and frozen dessert applications. To store, keep cool and dry until ready to use.

Apple Mint (Woolly Mint)

Apple mint typically grows to a height of from 40 to 100 centimeters (16 to 39 in) tall and spreads by stolons to form clonal colonies. The foliage is light green, with the opposite, wrinkled, sessile leaves being oblong to nearly ovate, 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2.0 in) long and 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) broad. They are somewhat hairy on top and downy underneath with serrated edges. The flowers develop in terminal spikes 4 to 9 cm (1.6 to 3.5 in) long and consisting of a number of whorls of white or pinkish flowers. Apple mint flowers in mid to late summer. The plant is aromatic with a fruity, minty flavor.
An attractive herb, apple mint is often used as an ornamental plant. It is hardy and easy to grow, preferring full sun to lightly shady conditions. The leaves of this plant can be used to make apple mint jelly, as well as a flavoring in dishes such as apple mint couscous. It is also often used to make a mint tea, as a garnish, or in salads.

Pennyroyal Mint

commonly (European) pennyroyal, or pennyrile, also called squaw mint, mosquito plant and pudding grass, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Crushed pennyroyal leaves emit a very strong fragrance similar to spearmint. Pennyroyal is a traditional folk remedy, emmenagogue, abortifacient, and culinary herb, but is toxic to the liver and has caused some deaths. European pennyroyal is related to an American species, Hedeoma pulegioides. Though they differ in genera, they share similar chemical properties.

Ginger Mint

Ginger Mint is a perennial reaching 60 cm with a 40 cm width. The growth habit is erect and the serrated leaves are held in opposite pairs on reddish toned stems. The leaves are heart shaped to elliptical, 2-4 cm in size and some varieties can be flecked with yellow/gold variegation. It has lavender blooms in late summer, held on long slender stalks. However, the blooms are positioned along the stem rather than at the end of the stalk, like other mints. The aroma is similar to spearmint with undertones of ginger.

Horse Mint

Horse mint is a plant that has a bitter taste and smells a little like thyme. The leaves are used to make medicine. People take horse mint for digestion problems, including gas. Women take it to start their menstrual periods or treat painful periods. Horse mint is also used as a stimulant. known as Bee Balm Leaves.

Red Raripila mint

Red Mint has a strong fruity spearmint smell. It is an attractive mint with oval mid-green leaves tinged with berry red and reddish stems, along with dense whorls of mauve flowers, very attractive. It is a particularly good culinary mint which is easy to grow and native to Europe. The herbalist John Gerard described mint as having a smell that "rejoice the heart of man". This is very true of Red Mint. Recognized to be an excellent attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects.

Nepeta or Catmint

Catmint is an aromatic herb that is commonly grown in the garden. It produces clusters of lavender-blue flowers amid mounds of gray-green foliage. This easily grown plant has an interesting history regarding its various uses in the landscape. For example, the herb is thought to have been first cultivated in the Roman town of Nepeti, where it was used as herbal tea and insect repellent. This is also believed to be the origin of its genus name, Nepeta. Some Nepeta species are cultivated as ornamental plants. They can be drought tolerant – water conserving, often deer repellent, with long bloom periods from late spring to autumn. Some species also have repellent properties to insect pests, including aphids and squash bugs, when planted in a garden. Nepeta species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species including Coleophora albitarsella, and as nectar sources for pollinators, such as honey bees and hummingbirds.

Bergamot mint or Orange mint

Orange mint's rich green leaves are oval in shape and grow on striking green to burgundy square stems. When allowed to flower this mint hybrid cross produces white and pink spiked blooms from mid- to late summer. Highly aromatic Orange mint tends to be stronger in flavor than many other varieties of mint with notes of citrus and spice with lavender undertones. Its aromatic properties are enhanced when bruised. Orange mint, also known as Bergamot mint or eau de cologne mint is a member of the Lamiaceae or Labiate family and scientifically known as Mentha x piperita citrata. Orange mint is a hybrid variety of mint grown for its fragrant leaves. Similar to other varieties of mint, Orange mint is a natural attractant of pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. An oil extracted from Orange mint is commonly utilized for its aromatic properties and adding scent to perfumes and soaps.

Lavender mint 

Lavender mint is a leafy herb that has small, spear-shaped leaves with subtly serrated edges. Young leaves are rounded at the tips. Like other piperitas species, Lavender mint has purplish-red stems that stand out against the green leaves. The leaves grow in opposing pairs at different intervals along the long, indeterminate stems. Mature grey-green leaves are accented with dark veins, purple margins and purple-hued undersides. The plant can reach up to 60 centimeters tall and spreads easily like other mints. It produces small, delicate purple flowers in the late summer and fall. The leaves and flowers offer a strong lavender aroma with hints of mint and floral overtones.
Lavender mint is a good source of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and folate, as well as B-complex vitamins. It contains small amounts of the minerals calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, and manganese. Volatile oils in Lavender mint have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-bacterial and analgesic properties.

Grapefruit Mint 

Like most mints Grapefruit Mint is easy to grow. With its furry leaves, deep green with a hint of mulberry in color, Grapefruit Mint looks good in the herb garden, especially when it flowers. The tall spikes of attractive purple flowers, which are edible, make excellent cut flowers. The intensely aromatic citrus-mint leaves work especially well in fruit desserts. Recognized to be an excellent attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects.

Calamint

Calamint belongs to a genus closely related to both the Thyme and to Catnap and Ground Ivy. It is an erect, bushy plant with square stems, rarely more than a foot high, bearing pairs of opposite leaves, which, like the stems, are downy with soft hairs. The flowers bloom in July and August, and are somewhat inconspicuous, drooping gracefully before expansion: the corollas are of a light purple color.
The plant grows by waysides and in hedges, and is not uncommon, especially in dry places. It may be cultivated as a hardy perennial, propagated by seeds sown outdoors in April, by cuttings of side shoots in cold frames in spring, or by division of roots in October and April.
It contains a camphoraceous, volatile, stimulating oil in common with the other mints. This is distilled by water, but its virtues are better extracted by rectified spirit.

Licorice mint

Licorice mint is a leafy herb that has spear-shaped green leaves with either pointed or scalloped-toothed margins. The plant grows in an upright cluster and can reach up to 120 centimeters tall, producing lavender purple flowers stalks up to 20 centimeters long in the late summer. The purple flowers are edible when young. Licorice mint leaves range from 3 to 6 centimeters wide and 4 to 9 centimeters long and give off a strong minty-anise aroma. Plants with smaller leaves will have a silver sheen on the underside, a result of tiny microscopic hairs. This is absent on the larger leafed A. rugosa. Licorice mint leaves offer a naturally sweet, minty, anise flavor, without the spiciness often associated with licorice.Licorice mint refers to two different plants, neither of which is a true mint. The two related perennial plants, Agastache foeniculum and Agastache rugosa, are members of the mint family. A. foeniculum is considered native to North America and is also known as Blue Giant hyssop or Anise hyssop, and A. rugosa is referred to as an ‘exotic’ (non-native plant) and has larger leaves, it is also known as Korean Licorice mint or Superior Licorice mint. Both plants are commonly called Licorice mint, have similar medicinal and culinary uses, and are sometimes confused for one another.

Basil Mint

Basil Mint is a hardy perennial growing to 45-60 cm in height. It has an upright growth habit, with an undefined width up to 1 meter, due to the spreading nature of this plant. The narrow, toothed leaves are bright green with a red tinge and extend from the red toned stems. It has pale purple flowers over summer. The scent is quite unique, a sweet and spicy mint fragrance somewhat reminiscent of aromas associated with Italian cooking. In keeping with this Italian link, the Basil Mint may also be called ‘Bastardo’. Basil Mint has the botanical name Mentha X piperita f. citrata ‘Basil’ and is one of several varieties including Chocolate Mint to come from this parent hybrid.

Corn Mint or Field mint

Mentha arvensis, the corn mint, field mint, or wild mint, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It has a circumboreal distribution, being native to the temperate regions of Europe and western and central Asia, east to the Himalaya and eastern Siberia, and North America. Mentha canadensis, the related species, is also included in Mentha arvensis by some authors as two varieties, M. arvensis var. glabrata Fernald (North American plants such as American Wild Mint) and M. arvensis var. piperascens Malinv. ex L. H. Bailey (eastern Asian plants such as Japanese mint).
Wild mint is a herbaceous perennial plant generally growing to 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) and rarely up to 100 cm (39 in) tall. It has a creeping root stock from which grow erect or semi-sprawling squarish stems. The leaves are in opposite pairs, simple, 2–6.5 cm (0.79–2.56 in) long and 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) broad, hairy, and with a coarsely serrated margin. The flowers are pale purple (occasionally white or pink), in whorls on the stem at the bases of the leaves. Each flower is 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) long and has a five-lobed hairy calyx, a four-lobed corolla with the uppermost lobe larger than the others and four stamens. The fruit is a two-chambered carpel.