Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) is an herb that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata).

This plant has several common names including: garden spearmint, spearmint, common mint, garden mint, green pea mint, lamb mint, mackerel mint, Mary’s herb or sage of Bethlehem.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: garden spearmint, spearmint, common mint, garden mint, green pea mint, lamb mint, mackerel mint, Mary’s herb, sage of Bethlehem
Scientific name: Mentha spicata
Plant type: Herbs, Perennials
Habit: Suckering
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Poorly drained
Garden type: Informal Garden, Wildlife Gardens
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators

Seasonal colors

How to plant Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) – NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Mentha spicata likes to grow in moist but well drained or humid or poorly drained soils.

Sunlight

Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) – W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons