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Lamiaceae
Mint Flower
Mentha spicata
Hospitality and refreshing virtue.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Mentha
- Native to
- Europe, western Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–100 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- moist, rich
- Water
- high; prefers consistently moist soil
- Hardiness
- 3–11
- Lifespan
- perennial; spreads indefinitely
Did you know
- Mint was named for the Greek nymph Minthe, whom Persephone transformed into a lowly herb — but Hades gave her a sweet scent as consolation.
- The flowers are whorled in slender spikes and are highly attractive to bees, producing a delicate mint-tinged honey.
- Mint spreads so aggressively by underground runners that experienced gardeners always plant it in buried containers.
- There are over 600 named varieties of mint, including chocolate mint, pineapple mint, and Moroccan mint.
- Ancient Romans scattered mint on banquet floors so that guests' footsteps would release its welcoming fragrance.
Color meanings
Lavender
warm hospitality
White
cleansing purity