Peppermint

Mentha x piperita

Family: LamiaceaeNative: Europe and the Middle EastIdentified: Nov 4, 2026

A perennial herbaceous plant featuring square stems, opposite dark green ovate leaves with serrated margins, and a spreading growth habit.

Light: Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Water: Requires regular moisture; water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Highly sensitive to prolonged drought.
Growth: Herbaceous perennial with a fast-spreading, vigorous rhizomatous growth habit, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet and spreading indefinitely.

Care instructions

Provide full sun to partial shade, keep the soil consistently moist, and plant in rich, well-draining soil with a neutral pH.

Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Requires regular moisture; water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Highly sensitive to prolonged drought.

Rich, loamy soil with excellent drainage and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

USDA zones 3 to 8

Herbaceous perennial with a fast-spreading, vigorous rhizomatous growth habit, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet and spreading indefinitely.

Summer to early autumn, producing small purple or pinkish flowers arranged in whorls along upright spikes.

Easily propagated through root division, stem cuttings placed in water or soil, or runners in spring or autumn.

Susceptible to rust, powdery mildew, and root rot in poorly draining soils. Pests include spider mites and aphids.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata), which features narrower, lance-shaped leaves and smoother stems compared to peppermint.