Botanical profile

Orange mint

Latin name
Mentha × piperita f. citrata 'Orange'
Common name
Orange mint
Type
Perennial aromatic herb
Family
Lamiaceae

Orange mint is a perennial aromatic plant highly prized for its fragrant foliage, which is fresh, minty, and delicately fruity, with a hint of orange. Its unique aroma makes it an ideal variety for herb gardens, edible containers, window boxes, and patio pots. It adds a refreshing and gourmet touch to outdoor spaces, while offering an abundant harvest of aromatic leaves throughout the season.

Easy to grow, orange mint prefers a location with gentle sun or partial shade, in fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to maintain tender, flavorful, and well-scented foliage. Like most mints, it can spread quickly when planted in the ground, so it is recommended to grow it in pots or in a delimited space to better control its growth. Frequent pruning promotes a denser, more productive, and easy-to-harvest plant.

Highly versatile in cooking, orange mint is perfect for flavoring infusions, iced teas, lemonades, cocktails, fruit salads, desserts, sorbets, fresh sauces, and summer recipes. Its leaves are used fresh to add a minty, fruity, and bright note to homemade preparations. It is an excellent plant for creating a gourmet, fragrant, and original garden, while enjoying an easy-to-grow herb that is pleasant to use daily.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Aromatic foliage with an orange scent, ideal for infusions and desserts
Container, vegetable garden, herbs, herbal tea, cold drinks, edible garden
Container growing
Pot culture recommended to control its expansion
Seasonal care
Prune regularly to maintain a compact shape and limit flowers; grow in containers to control rhizomes; cut back in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 3
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep soil moist without overwatering
Humidity
Average to high humidity; prefers cool soil
Fertilization
Light compost in spring; moderate fertilization in pots
Soil type
Fertile, cool, humus-rich and well-drained soil
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
-30°C
Propagation method
Division, cuttings, or runners
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
Pale mauve to pink
Foliage color
Dark green, sometimes tinged with purple
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Sprawling, bushy and rhizomatous habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Width
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Lemon balm, chives, parsley, calendulas
Spacing
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves from spring to autumn
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.