Mentha spicata Syn. Mentha viridis
Family: Lamiaceae
Herbaceous perennial. Native to temperate Europe and the Mediterranean,
it has been grown in the new world for over two centuries, and has escaped
from many gardens into the wild. Spearmint is milder than Peppermint,
having much the same carminative and mind-stimulating action, a little
less intense and very pleasant tasting. Spearmint is widely used
as a flavoring agent for candies, confections and foodstuffs, and is grown
commercially for the production of essential oils. For home use,
the plants are picked just as they begin to flower, dried in the shade
and stored for tea. Cultivation: Easy. Sow
in spring or early summer, in flats or directly in the garden. Press
small seed into the soil surface and keep warm and moist until germination.
Transplant or thin seedlings to 1 foot spacing. Prefers moist ground
and partial shade. Bright green finely toothed leaves flowering lilac,
to 2 feet.
Return
to Herb Seed Index