What Is a Peppermint Plant?

Identification

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) grows 1 to 3 feet tall with reddish stems covered in dark green, toothed leaves. Small purple or pink flower spikes cover the plant in the summer months. Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint (M. spicata) and water mint (M. aquatica).

Uses

• Peppermint produces essential oils in glands found on the leaves and stems of the plant. These oils are used to flavor a wide variety of products, including gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, cosmetics, candy, tea and pharmaceuticals. Peppermint foliage is particularly high in the essential oil menthol, which offers a calming, slightly numbing sensation that has led to peppermint's use as a treatment for a wide variety of ailments, including nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramping, skin irritations, headaches, anxiety associated with depression and flatulence, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Peppermint is an ingredient in chest rubs used to treat the common cold.

History

• Peppermint has a long, colorful history. In the Middle Ages, peppermint was used as a cleanser, including to purify drinking water stored on board ships during sea voyages. The Romans fashioned crowns out of peppermint and wore them, and the Greeks turned to peppermint for clearing the voice and curing hiccups. Colonists brought peppermint to America for a variety of medicinal uses and as a tea ingredient.

Growing Requirements

• Plant peppermint in a full-sun or part-shade location in rich, moist soil that has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Water when the soil surface dries and ensure that adequate moisture and nutrients get to the peppermint by keeping the mint patch well-weeded. Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer on a monthly basis. For optimum growth, space peppermint plants 2 feet apart and prune frequently to promote bushy growth. Divide clumps in the spring to propagate. Harvest peppermint two to three times during the spring and summer growing season.

Warning

• In moist conditions, peppermint can overtake a garden and crowd out other plants. Prevent peppermint from becoming invasive by planting the herb in its own garden bed or in containers.