PlantsHerbs & Teas
American Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Native mint for moist soil Fits Herb Gardens, Native Plant Gardens, Rain Gardens, Cottage Gardens and Container Gardens.
Herb GardensNative Plant GardensRain GardensCottage GardensContainer GardensEasyHerbs & TeasAlso Rain GardenEdibleRain garden
- Light
- Full sun–part shade
- Moisture
- Moist
- Mature size
- 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 12–18 in
- Bloom or harvest
- Flowers Jul–Sep; leaves in season
- How it spreads
- Strong rhizomes
- What to buy
- Plug or division for reliable residential establishment; seed for larger restoration areas.
- When to plant
- Apr–May; late Aug–Sep, finishing about six weeks before the first frost.
In the design
Use in a pot sunk into moist soil or a dedicated wet strip.
If you eat it
Leaves for tea and seasoning
Contain aggressively spreading roots
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
