• Aromatic
• Easy to grow
• Loved by bees
• Good for drinks

As well as a culinary herb and its use in confectionary, mint has traditionally been used as a tea for treating headaches and digestive disorders, in modern medicine it is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders and relieving wind and colic. The flowers are very attractive to bees and it is thought to be a mouse and rat repellent.

Plant care

• Height: 60-100cm
• Type: Hardy
• Aspect: Sun/shade
• Soil: Any/alkaline
• Flower colour: Purple/pink
• Flowering period: July September

On the whole mints are fast growing perennials that love good rich soil and grow in both sun and shade successfully. Each spring it is worth cutting the bottom quarter of the root ball off this container grown mint and replacing with fresh soil or compost for new roots to grow into. In the ground it can be left as it is. Like most mints, it dies down each autumn and shoots again in spring.

Usage

A fruity tasting mint, both the leaves and flowers in fruit dishes, cocktails, for syrups and salads. A refreshing aromatic tea can be made by infusing the leaves in boiling water and drunk hot or cold with ice. The flowers are loved by bees.