Plant of the Month: Mint

Author: Sarah Pounders


Scientific Name: The genus for the mint plant is Mentha and it includes a number of closely related species. The two most common mints are peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). The mints are part of the Lamiaceae family, a large group of plants distinguished by their square stems. Visit the garden and see what other plants you can find that possess this trait (— hint: most of them are fragrant). Because they are hardy and have such attractive scents, mints are an excellent plant for youth herb and sensory gardens. Be sure to confine them, though, as they spread readily!

History and Uses

Botanists believe mint originated in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea, where its earliest uses were for fragrance and flavoring, especially in medicines. Mint plants rarely produce seed, but they spread rampantly by their roots and underground stems. They were introduced to other regions through the transplanting of root and stem cuttings.

Mint plants arrived in the United States with the early colonists, and commercial production began in western Massachusetts in the early 1800s. Mint farmers harvested leaves in July and August, and after a drying process, oil was distilled from the leaves. This oil keeps its fragrance and flavor for many years making it a much more useful product than the fresh or dried leaves. During colonial times, mint oil was mainly used as a medicine and in teas, and was often sold by traveling peddlers. Mint oil production spread from Massachusetts to the Finger Lakes area of New York.

In 1839 mint entered the export trade. Merchants shipped mint oil to Germany, and the American product gained international popularity. About this same time, mint production started in Michigan; by 1900, Michigan produced more mint than any other state. A turning point in the commercial production of mint came in the late 1800s when producer Albert Todd devised a scientific method for testing and grading the quality of mint oil. Prior to this system the quality of mint oil varied greatly. This innovation provided new standards for the mint industry.

Farming practices and distilling methods have improved greatly over the past century. Click here for more of its history. Also, the location of mint production has shifted, and now American mint farming is dominant in northwest Washington and Oregon. A virulent soil-borne fungal disease, verticillium wilt, was the main reason for this shift away from Michigan farms. The disease is impossible to control over large acreages.

Today, 40 percent of the mint oil produced is used to make chewing gum, and 30 percent is used in dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash. Click here for the data source. The remaining mint oil is used for cooking, especially sweet treats.

Although peppermint and spearmint are the most commonly grown mints, there are a number of other varieties available including apple mint, curly mint, pineapple mint,
chocolate mint, orange mint, Egyptian mint, basil mint, Corsican mint, Persian mint, and ginger mint.

Mint is a favorite with home gardeners because it is easy to grow and fun to use in recipes. A popular way to use the mint harvest is to make tea. Mint leaves have been used for tea for hundreds of years, and although today’s gardeners mainly drink it because it tastes good, in the past mint tea was used as a cure for headaches, heartburn, and indigestion. Making your own mint brew is a great hands-on way to introduce your studetns to this useful plant. Click here for some herbal tea recipes.

Growing Information

Mints are not picky about their growing conditions, and in many cases will become a garden weed if left unattended. They prefer moist, well-drained soils and full to partial sun. Click here to read more about growing mint in your garden.