10 refreshing varieties of mint to grow
Freshen up your herb garden by growing different mint varieties – we pick some of the best.
Most of us will have grown garden mint, Mentha spicata, but there are lots of other types to grow with interesting and unexpected flavours.
Of course, the more types you grow, the more mint you'll have at your disposal to use fresh in teas, ice cream, summer drinks and more.
Mint is especially vigorous, so it's best grown in pots and containers to prevent it spreading in the garden. To boost your stock of mint, follow our easy steps to taking mint cuttings.
More on growing herbs:
Discover 10 varieties of mint to grow, below.
Banana mint
As the name suggests, banana mint (Mentha arvensis 'Banana') is a low-growing variety with a scent and taste similar to bananas. Like all mints, it's easy to grow and being perennial, will return year after year.
Grapefruit mint
Grapefruit mint, Mentha x piperata f. citrata 'Grapefruit', has large, downy leaves with a sharp citrus flavour. Delicious in fruit desserts or cocktails.
Chocolate mint
Mentha x piperata f. citrata 'Chocolate' gets its name after the chocolatey aroma, said to be like that of After Eights. Lovely bronze stems provide contrast to the fresh green leaves. Perfect for summer puddings or as an ice cream topping.
Moroccan mint
Moroccan mint (Mentha spicata var. crispa 'Moroccan') has a crisp mint flavour, and is the variety recommended for brewing fresh Moroccan tea. It's also a good choice for making mint sauce.
Strawberry mint
Deliciously named strawberry mint, Mentha spicata subsp. citrata 'Strawberry', is a compact variety with small, delicate leaves and a mild, fruity flavour and fragrance. A tasty addition to fruity summer drinks.
Curly mint
Curly mint (Mentha spicata var. crispa) is a creeping variety with frilled leaves that have a strong peppermint flavour. The strong stems are good for stirring cocktails, as well as adding flavour – or use the pretty leaves to garnish dishes.
Mentha spicata 'English Lamb'
Mentha spicata 'English Lamb' has a sweet, strong mint flavour, so it's ideal for using in soups, salads and drinks, and of course in mint sauce. A useful addition to this herb pot for vegetable dishes.
Pineapple mint
Pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’) gets its name from its scent, which has a hint of pineapples, making it a great addition to summery drinks. It rarely flowers and grows slowly, but grown in the right spot it will last for several years.
Buddleia mint
Buddleia mint, Mentha longifolia, is so called because of its long, purple, nectar-rich flowers and beautiful silvery foliage. It's best grown as an ornamental plant rather than a culinary one, though the leaves do have a musty mint scent.
Water mint
Water mint (Mentha aquatica) is a moisture-loving native species, where it grows in fen-meadows and other poorly-drained areas. The pompon shaped flowers are pretty and highly attractive to pollinators. A good marginal pond plant. Discover more native plants for ponds.
Don't forget the flowers
You can boost the pickings you get from mint by removing flower buds when they appear, but don't forget that, as well as being enormously attractive to bees and other pollinators, the flowers are edible too. Try using the flowers to flavour oil and butter, or as a pretty salad garnish.
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