Botanical profile

Peppermint

Latin name
Mentha × piperita
Common name
Peppermint
Type
Perennial
Family
Lamiaceae

Peppermint is a perennial aromatic plant much appreciated for its dark green foliage with a powerful, fresh, and intensely mentholated fragrance. Its lively and refreshing taste makes it an essential herb for infusions, iced teas, lemonades, cocktails, desserts, chocolates, fruit salads, fresh sauces, and homemade preparations. It integrates perfectly into herb gardens, edible containers, planters, and patio pots, where it offers a generous harvest of aromatic leaves.

Easy to grow, peppermint prefers a location with gentle sun or partial shade, in fertile, cool, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to produce tender, flavorful, and very fragrant foliage. Like most mints, it can spread quickly when planted directly in the ground, so it is recommended to grow it in a pot or in a delimited space to better control its growth. Frequent pruning promotes a denser, more productive, and easier-to-harvest plant.

Both robust, fragrant, and very versatile, peppermint is ideal for gardeners looking for a classic, durable, and low-maintenance aromatic plant. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried to enjoy their mentholated flavor all year round. It is an excellent plant for creating a gourmet, refreshing, and practical garden, whether near the kitchen or on a patio or balcony.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Very aromatic foliage with a powerful minty taste
Container, vegetable garden, herbs, herbal tea, desserts, cold drinks
Container growing
Container growing recommended to control its spread
Seasonal care
Prune regularly to maintain a compact habit; grow in containers to control rhizomes; cut back in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 4 and above
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep the soil moist without waterlogging
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
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Bushy, spreading and rhizomatous habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 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, marigolds
Spacing
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves: May to September
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.