The mint genus contains between 20 and 30 species. It's not that easy to tell them apart visually. The following overview of prominent attributes aims to help identify popular species and cultivars.

The 5 best types of mint for beds and balconies

By no means every herbal plant is provided with a name tag. When looking for suitable mint plants for the garden, you can determine the most popular species based on the following characteristics:

  • Peppermint (Mentha x piperita): light purple spike flowers, stalked leaves 3-7 mm long, 50-90 cm large
  • Spearmint (Mentha spicata): pale pink cylindrical flowers, opposite, sessile leaves, height of growth up to 120 cm
  • Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium): hairy, light pink flowers in the leaf axils, oval leaves, height of growth 10-50 cm
  • Water mint (Mentha aquatica): pink spherical flowers, ovate leaves, hairy stems, height of growth up to 90 cm

With the Moroccan mint, Mother Nature has put a lot of effort into creating an extra-aromatic natural hybrid. With a growth height of up to 50 centimetres, this species remains comparatively small, so that it thrives wonderfully in a pot on the balcony. Here it captivates with tiny bell-shaped flowers arranged in the shape of spikes.

Great mint varieties for connoisseurs who like to experiment

If you not only want to identify mint species, but also love the surprise, try the following varieties:

  • Chocolate mint (Mentha x piperita var. piperita "Chocolate"): reminiscent of the taste of 'After Eight', growth height 60 cm
  • Strawberry mint (Mentha species): offers a fruity experience in fragrance and pleasure, growth height 50 cm
  • Mojito mint (Mentha species 'Nemorosa'): rich in valuable menthol, growth height 50 cm
  • Banana mint (Mentha arvensis 'Banana'): a delicate-leaved variety for sweet dishes, growth height 50 cm

A variety with wonderful ornamental value comes under the name pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'). It not only enchants with a fresh, fruity scent. Their white variegated leaves compete with many ornamental leaf plants in perennial borders. Dried in bouquets, the pineapple mint decorates the house for many months.

tips and tricks

Prepared as a tea with plenty of sugar, Moroccan mint is the national drink. Well-stocked Moroccan shops sometimes carry the plant as a rooted specimen in a pot. If you want to save yourself the sowing, you will receive a ready-grown herb plant for beds and balconies.

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Category:

Vegetable garden