Mint
Mints come in a wide variety of forms, not necessarily all invasive and many warrant a place as ornamentals. The worst advice is to confine them in a bucket, they will run round in circles trying to escape and eventually throttle themselves.
The following plants are available to buy from Arne Herbs Nursery. Please contact us or call +44 (0) 1275 333 399 to confirm stock availability.
| Agastache rugosa Korean Mint
|
| Well, sort of minty at least…and it's not invasive |
| Calamintha grandiflora Giant calamint
|
| Lge pink flrs for edging, this is the real thing, not the inadequate plant that often masquerades under this name
| 
|
| Calamintha nepeta, C sylvatica Calamint
|
| There are technical differences between these two species, ours have probably crossed. Staple ingredient of many Italian salads with vaguely minty taste. Make excellent tea
| 
|
| Calamintha nervosa probably an incorrect synonym for Nepeta nervosa
|
| A low growing per with oxford blue flrs for the rockery or Mediterranean garden |
| Elsholtzia stauntonii Mint balm
|
| Mauve or white flrs, interesting fragrance, regarded by some as edible |
| Mentha aquatica water mint
|
| English native used in Middle Ages "medled with hony and a lytle wyn put thereto for-doth the cold of mannys stomak and other wycked wyndys" (AC Herbal of 1400) |
| Mentha arvensis Corn mint
|
| English native collected in Dorset, not particularly rampant. Unusual citrussy scent |
| Mentha citrata Portuguese mint
|
| Found in the garden at Serralves and gentler than the above, it may be better for the heavy handed cook who doesn't want her bouillabaisse smelling like her bath room |
| Mentha cordifolia. Jack Green's Mint
|
| For description of this variety, collected in the garden of the legendary mason of Salisbury Cathedral , in Tisbury 1974, See MAFF bulletin No 76, 1938. Retains its leaves long into the Winter |
| Mentha gentilis Ginger mint
|
| Silly name for a straggly mint with golden-green variegated foliage which often reverts in excessive sunlight. Doesn't get going until May |
| Mentha haplocalyx Chinese mint
|
| Used medicinally in China and for scenting tea, not as rampant as other mints |
| Mentha longifolia Buddleia mint
|
| A thug with long mauve flr spikes, definitely one for the wild garden |
| Mentha longifolia Silver Mint
|
| Less thuggish and far prettier version of above contrasts with darker plants in border. Designers use it where it is too damp for Artemisias |
| Mentha piperita Black peppermint
|
| Ours is the rare true Mitcham mint with the highest level of the essential oil. Almost black leaves, fantastic with sorbets, one of our favourite herbs |
| Mentha piperita alba White peppermint
|
| A peppermint for those who find the smell of Mitcham over-powering. A bit boring actually but some people appreciate its subtle blandness |
| Mentha piperita X Chocolate Mint
|
| Variant of the above which really does smell of After-eights, introduced by the writer from New Jersey |
| Mentha requenii Corsican mint
|
| The tiniest mint with amazingly strong smell relative to its size, seems to grow almost anywhere where it is not going to be swamped by more vigorous plants. Minute mauve flrs. A best-seller |
| Mentha rotundifolia Apple mint
|
| Big round slightly hairy leaves thought by many to be the best flavoured mint. However it goes flop in salads |
| Mentha rotundifolia variegata Pineapple Mint
|
| Currently and mysteriously in vogue so someone must like its unusual taste. Looks pretty though |
| Mentha spicata Spearmint
|
| The traditional English mint-sauce-mint |
| Mentha spicata Moroccan Mint
|
| Very similar to M cordifolia (above), this mint has largely supereceded English spearmint as it maintains its taste better in late season, is more resistant to rust and copes with drier conditions as well as having superb flavour |
| Mentha spicata Tashkent Mint
|
| Brought home from Tashkent by Mike Tristram's Mum, this is arguably even better than Moroccan with a more succulent leaf |
