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Mentha
Also called Mints
In Singapore: Chocolate Mint, 巧克力薄荷 (Cultivated in Singapore)
Mints are fast-spreading, aromatic perennial herbs, mostly grown as the common garden mint, peppermint, and spearmint types, with 18 to 24 species in the genus. Keep them moist and give partial shade, and contain them in pots or sunken containers because they spread aggressively.
Mentha, also known as mint (from Greek μίνθα míntha, Linear B mi-ta), is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is estimated that 18 to 24 species exist, but the exact distinction between species is unclear. Hybridization occurs naturally where some species' ranges overlap. Many hybrids and cultivars are known.
The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution, growing best in wet environments and moist soils.
All mints thrive near pools of water, lakes, rivers, and cool moist spots in partial shade. In general, mints tolerate a wide range of conditions, and can also be grown in full sun. Mint grows all year round.
They are fast-growing, extending their reach along surfaces through a network of runners. Due to their speedy growth, one plant of each desired mint, along with a little care, will provide more than enough mint for home use. Some mint species are more invasive than others. Even with the less invasive mints, care should be taken when mixing any mint with any other plants, lest the mint take over. To control mints in an open environment, they should be planted in deep, bottomless containers sunk in the ground, or planted above ground in tubs and barrels.
The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa – (Southern Africa), Asia, Australia – Oceania, North America and South America. Its species can be found in many environments, but most grow best in wet environments and moist soils.
Water mint · Wild mint · Australian Mint · Hioi · Mentha gattefossei · Mentha grandiflora · Mentha japonica · Mentha micrantha · Peppermint · Pennyroyal · Mint · Mentha royleana
[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mentha by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
