Wild Mint (Mentha Arvensis)
The
Wild Mint (Mentha Arvensis) is generally described as
a perennial forb/herb.
This
dicot (dicotyledon) is
native to the U.S. (United States)
has its most active growth period in the
spring .
The
Wild Mint has
green foliage and
inconspicuous
white flowers, with
a moderate amount of
conspicuous brown fruits or seeds.
The greatest bloom is usually observed in the
spring,
with fruit and seed production starting in the
summer and continuing until
fall.
Leaves are
not retained year to year.
The
Wild Mint has a
short life span relative to most other plant species and a
moderate growth rate.
At maturity, the typical
Wild Mint will reach up to
2.6 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of
0 inches.
The
Wild Mint is easily found in nurseries, garden stores and other plant dealers and distributors. It can be propagated by
bare root.
It has a
moderate ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have
medium vigor.
Note that cold stratification is
not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below
-33°F.
Wild Mint has
low tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.
| Category |
Dicot |
| Growth Rate |
Moderate |
| General Type |
Forb/herb |
| Growth Period |
Spring |
| Growth Duration |
Perennial |
| Lifespan |
Short |
| Plant Nativity |
Native to U.S. |
| Commercial Availability |
Routinely Available |
| Bloom Period |
Spring |
| Displays Fall Colors |
No |
| Shape/Growth Form |
Single Stem |
| Drought Tolerance |
Low |
| Shade Tolerance |
Intermediate |
| Height When Mature |
2.6 |
| Vegetative Spread |
None |
| Flower Color |
White |
| Flower Conspicuousness |
Yes |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance |
Medium |
| Fruit/Seed Seasonality |
Summer Fall |
| Seed Spread Rate |
Moderate |
| Propagations (Ways to Grow) |
Bare Root |
| Moisture Requirements |
Medium |
| Cold Stratification Required |
No |
| Minimum Temperature |
-33 |
| Soil Depth for Roots |
6 |
| Toxic to Nearby Plants |
No |
| Toxic to Livestock |
No |
| After-Harvest Regrowth Rate |
Slow |
| After-Harvest Resprout Ability |
No |
| Responds to Coppicing |
No |
| pH Range |
5–7 pH |
| Precipitation Range |
20–20 inches/yr |
| Planting Density |
3450–19360 indiv./acre |
| Soil Textures |
Fine, Medium |
| Soil Depth for Roots |
6 |
| Minimum Frost-Free Days |
100 day(s) |
| Salinity Tolerance |
None |
| CaCO3 Tolerance |
Medium |
| Leaf Retention |
No |
| Palatability |
Low |
| Fire Resistant |
No |
| Causes Livestock Bloating |
None |
Source: USDA, NRCS, PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov.
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA
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- Mentha arvensis ssp. borealis
- Mentha arvensis var. canadensis
- Mentha arvensis var. glabrata
- Mentha arvensis ssp. haplocalyx
- Mentha arvensis var. lanata
- Mentha arvensis var. sativa
- Mentha arvensis var. villosa
- Mentha canadensis
- Mentha gentilis
- Mentha glabrior
- Mentha penardii
Wild Mint can be found in
Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
