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.
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.
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.