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Mentha × piperita /ˈmɛntʰa/

Common name: Peppermint

Mentha × piperita is a perennial hybrid mint in the family Lamiaceae, a natural cross between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), first described from England. It grows 30–90 cm tall with dark green, often purple-tinged leaves and spikes of purple flowers. Its high menthol content gives it a sharp, cooling flavor, making it a major crop for essential oil, confectionery, tea, and traditional medicine. Because it is a sterile hybrid, it is propagated vegetatively from cuttings or runners.

Fun facts

  • Peppermint is a sterile hybrid that rarely produces viable seed, so every plant is essentially a clone grown from cuttings or rhizomes.
  • Menthol, its main aromatic compound, triggers cold-sensitive receptors in the skin and mouth, creating a cooling sensation without lowering temperature.
  • It was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 from specimens cultivated in England.
  • The United States is one of the world's largest producers of peppermint oil, much of it grown in the Pacific Northwest.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to partial shade
Water Likes moist soil; water regularly, don't let dry out
Soil Moist, rich, well-drained; slightly acidic to neutral
Hardiness Zones 3–11
Mature height About 30–90 cm (1–3 ft)
Pet safe Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Difficulty Easy
Propagation As a sterile hybrid, peppermint is always propagated vegetatively: divide the runners or creeping rhizomes in spring or autumn and replant them, or root 10 cm stem cuttings in water before potting up.

Make your own Peppermint profile

Common problems

    • Grow in pots or sunken containers
    • Pull spreading runners out regularly
    • Remove and bin infected growth
    • Cut plants back hard after harvest
    • Thin stems to improve airflow
    • Keep soil evenly moist