Moroccan Mint (Mentha spicata) – Hardy Perennial Herb (Set of 3 or 6)

Moroccan mint is the spearmint traditionally used for North African mint tea, sweet and clean rather than sharp.

The bright green crinkled leaves are just as good in salads, sauces, puddings and cold summer drinks, and the plants crop generously from spring right through to autumn, regrowing quickly every time you cut them. Left to flower in late summer, the spikes bring in bees and butterflies.

Sun or partial shade both suit it, and unlike most herbs mint is happy in ground that stays moist, even a little heavy. Mint runs hard through underground roots and will take over a bed, so grow it in a deep pot, sink that pot into the ground, or give it a corner where it can spread without bothering anything else. Pinch or cut stems regularly to keep growth fresh and bushy, and cut the whole plant back after flowering. It grows well in a pot on a kitchen windowsill as well as outside.

Supplied as three or six established plants in 1 litre root balls, grown outdoors in the UK.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Moroccan mint, Nana mint
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 40 to 60cm tall by 30 to 45cm across, spreading
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy, vigorous perennial that spreads by runners
• Perfect For: Herb gardens, containers, raised beds and kitchen gardens
• Foliage: Bright green, crinkled and strongly aromatic
• Flowering Time: Summer into early autumn, July to September
• Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade. Takes moist ground and is best grown in a container
• Soil Type: Moist, well drained, rich in organic matter
• Hardiness: Fully hardy. The top growth dies away in winter and returns each spring
• Maintenance: Low. Harvest often, cut back after flowering, and keep the roots contained
• Seasonal Interest: Spring, summer and autumn
• Type: Grow your own