Dig into Plants: Spearmint

Spearmint

Other Common Names: Mint

Scientific Name: Mentha spicata

Alternate Non-native Species:
Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate’)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) ‘

Native to Alabama: No, non-invasive

Wikimedia – Assianir

Learn More About...

Basic Plant Information

Jepson Herbarium – Keir Morse

I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I do not keep leaves year-round, so I am deciduous.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 1 – 2 feet high and 1 – 2 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Other Pollinators

Maintenance Notes

Can spread aggressively.
Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
Plant will die back in winter in the northern third of the state, but will continue growing and remain green in the southern two-thirds of the state.
To harvest a large amount of leaves, wait until just before the plant blooms and cut the whole plant to just above the first or second set of leaves. You will remove the yellowing lower leaves in this process and promote bushier growth. Three of these harvests per season will be good for the plant.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/ Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Average Watering

Loamy
or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Wikimedia – Stefan Lefnaer

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Leaves are dark green up to 3 inches long and less than 1 inch wide, smooth/no hair, strong spearmint scent and taste, wrinkled appearance because of the indentations along veins; leaves grow on square stems (mint family characteristic).

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Lanceolate or Ovate	Margin: Serrate

Arrangement: Opposite	Form: Simple

North Carolina Extension Gardener Toolbox –
Jacinta Lluch Valero

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Dense clusters of small whorled flowers on spike-like inflorescences about 1-6 inches long.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: Lilac, pink, white	Shape: Tubular	Bloom Months: Jul – Aug

Go Botany Native Plant Trust – James Lindsey

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and Rhizomes/ Tubers/ Roots & Shoots
Can spread aggressively, best to contain in pot or separate bed from other plants.


Type: Fruit – Dry Seed Pod	Description: The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe and generally contains 4 nutlets that have a rounded tip

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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