Dig into Plants: Spearmint

Spearmint Other Common Names: Mint Scientific Name: Mentha spicata Alternate Non-native Species: Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita 'Chocolate') Peppermint (Mentha piperita) ' Native to Alabama: No, non-invasive
	Wikimedia Assianir Click on image to enlarge it

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Basic Plant Information
	I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous. I do not keep leaves year-round, so I am deciduous. I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial. I can grow 1 - 2 feet high and 1 - 2 feet wide.
Jepson Herbarium Keir Morse Click on image to enlarge it

Ecological Benefits

Maintenance Notes

Can spread aggressively. Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase. Plant will die back in winter in the northern third of the state, but will continue growing and remain green in the southern two-thirds of the state.
To harvest a large amount of leaves, wait until just before the plant blooms and cut the whole plant to just above the first or second set of leaves. You will remove the yellowing lower leaves in this process and promote bushier growth. Three of these harvests per season will be good for the plant. When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots. Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves. Requires average amount of water.
Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:
Full Sun (6+ hours of sun per day) Part Sun/ Shade (2-6 hours of sun per day)	Average Watering	Loamy or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

LEAF DESCRIPTION				Wikimedia Stefan Lefnaer Click on image to enlarge it
Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)

Shape: Lanceolate or Ovate	Margin: Serrate	Arrangement: Opposite	Form: Simple


Description:
Leaves are dark green up to 3 inches long and less than 1 inch wide, smooth/no hair, strong spearmint scent and taste, wrinkled appearance because of the indentations along veins; leaves grow on square stems (mint family characteristic)


FLOWER DESCRIPTION			North Carolina Extension Gardener Toolbox Jacinta Lluch Valero Click on image to enlarge it
Flower Shape Chart (JPG)

Color: Lilac, pink, white	Shape: Tubular	Bloom Months: Jul - Aug

Description:
Dense clusters of small whorled flowers on spike-like inflorescences about 1-6 inches long



SEED DESCRIPTION		Go Botany Native Plant Trust James Lindsey Click on image to enlarge it

Type: Fruit - Dry Seed Pod	Description: The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe and generally contains 4 nutlets that have a rounded tip

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and Rhizomes/ Tubers/ Roots & Shoots Can spread aggressively, best to contain in pot or separate bed from other plants

Plant Life Cycle
Plant Life Cycle: All plants start life as a seed. The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots. The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground. After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers. After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed. When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again. Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.	General Plant Life Cycle - Dreamstime Click on image to enlarge it

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign:
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign:
Editable Word Doc

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS PLANT

Native Plant Trust Go Botany		USDA Plants Database
Bonnie Plants		North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Missouri Botanical Garden

Alabama Outdoor Classroom Conservation Education Programs