A bushy mint with shiny dark aromatic leaves that have a hint of basil it makes a refreshing addition to drinks, fruit and salads. As a fast-spreading perennial it may be better to grow in a container. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Will trail in a pot
- Aromatic
- Easy to grow
- Excellent for tea
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. Full of life and bursting with scent and flavour, basil mint adds colour to a garden or patio and is a good background for paler plants.
Plant care
- Height: 60-100cm
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun/shade
- Soil: Any/alkaline
- Flower colour: Purple
- 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. Planted in heavy soils they spread rapidly and unless you have plenty of space can become a bit of a menace, in lighter soils their spread is limited and in very dry summers they can die. Most people grow their mints in containers and in the first year they are usually gorgeous and lush, it is in the second year when they emerge again in spring that the leaves are tiny and grow mostly around the edges of the container. This is because they grow so fast that the roots have filled the container completely and though additional feeding helps, there is just not enough oomph left in the soil to support a vigorous plant. The easiest thing to do is tip the whole root ball out and replant half of it back in the container with some fresh compost; it won’t be long before you have a fantastic looking mint again. The other half you can grow in another pot, give away or add to the compost heap.
Usage
A strongly aromatic mint with basil overtones can be added to salads, ice creams and fruit dishes in smaller amounts than other mints because of its strong flavour. It produces a lovely mint tea which is improved by a little honey. The abundant flowers on top of the tall stems are loved by bees and pollinators.