Mentha spicata var. crispa

Mint is native to Europe but is naturalised throughout the globe, and has been cultivated for its medicinal uses for thousands of years. It's thought that the Romans introduced it to Britain.

These days, mint is used mostly as a culinary herb, adding a fresh, summery flavour to salads, sauces, summer dishes and drinks. It's easy to grow and, being perennial, comes back every year. There are many varieties to choose from, each with a distinctive flavour. Best grown in pots in a sunny spot, it's a good idea to grow at least a couple of mint varieties in order to add variety and interest to dishes.

Curly mint, Mentha spicata var. crispa, is a creeping mint, bearing frilled peppermint-flavoured leaves on strong stems. Plants produce clusters of small, lilac flowers in summer, which are particularly attractive to pollinators.