Mint is a flavor which has been embraced by society in so many ways.
Mint products are nice for sure, but interacting with mint plants is a very rich experience.
The fragrances are of course special, but to me the best thing about mints is how the pollinators react.
My friend, who is a bird scientist, was in complete disbelief when he saw the spearmint patch in front of our house this year. The number of insects and the variety of types was simply astonishing. It seems that both large and small insects, including bees, wasps, moths, and more, were buzzing all around.
Some people worry about mint spreading, and it’s true that mint does spread via superficial runners, especially with lighter soils that aren’t waterlogged or when there is plenty of loose mulch. But this is how mint stays young and fresh. An individual mint root doesn’t last for all that long, and if a mint patch doesn’t stay moving or gets shaded out, it will slow its spread dramatically and eventually die back.
Some people worry about mowing their lawns too much…and I dream of all the grass on our street being replaced by mint. It would be like walking to Emerald City.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Classic mint with spear-shaped leaves and a strong minty flavor.
Wild Spearmint (Mentha spp.)- Different from the spearmint above, this spearmint is more of a wild type that just appeared in our nursery one day. May very well be slightly hybridized, definitely tougher and wilder. Seems to have slightly smaller flowers. I have not done the full botanical exploration to find the exact species name here, but want to offer this cool plant since we have so much now!
