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Apple mint

Mentha suaveolens

Also called Round-leaved Mint, Pineapple Mint, Round Leaf Mint, Big Leaved Mint

Apple mint
Photo: Broly0, CC0

Apple mint is a spreading, aromatic perennial herb grown for its fruity-scented leaves and as ground cover. It grows best in moist soil in full sun to light shade, and it spreads quickly by runners.

Family
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun
Water
Keep soil moist, as it likes damp conditions.
Soil
Moist, fertile garden soil or loam.
Temperature
Hardy in temperate climates; tolerates cold winters.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Not known to be toxic. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Macaronesia, Europe to Medit.
Climate
temperate

About

Mentha suaveolens, the apple mint, pineapple mint, woolly mint or round-leafed mint (synonyms M. rotundifolia, Mentha macrostachya, Mentha insularis), is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to southern and western Europe including the Mediterranean region. It is a herbaceous, upright perennial plant that is most commonly grown as a culinary herb or for ground cover.

How to grow it

An attractive herb, apple mint is often used as an ornamental plant. It is hardy and easy to grow, preferring full sun to lightly shady conditions. The leaves of this plant can be used to make apple mint jelly, as well as a flavoring in dishes such as apple mint couscous. It is also often used to make a mint tea, as a garnish, or in salads.

Pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata') is a cultivar of apple mint that has leaves which are banded with white. A hybrid derived from it is grapefruit mint (Mentha suaveolens × piperata).

Where it grows

Apple mint is native to southern and western Europe and is naturalised in central and northern parts of Europe. It is found in damp and wet locations.

Other Mentha plants

Water mint · Wild mint · Australian Mint · Hioi · Mentha gattefossei · Mentha grandiflora · Mentha japonica · Mentha micrantha · Peppermint · Pennyroyal · Mint · Mentha royleana

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mentha suaveolens 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.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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