Apple mint
Mentha suaveolens · Lamiaceae
📷 ZooFari · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
Apple mint is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, medium green, soft and rounded texture
- Flowering
- July to September, small pink or lilac flowers in spikes
- Adult size
- Up to 100 cm tall, spreading bushy habit
- Growth
- Fast and vigorous
- Hardiness
- Good, down to approximately -15 °C
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin and Middle East
- Soil type
- Well-drained soil, rich in organic matter
- Edibility
- Yes, sweet and aromatic flavor
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Greedy mint that really needs regular renewal (division every 2 years). In pot or garden, it exhausts itself quickly.
The common mistake
Leaving it in place for 3-4 years without rejuvenating: it becomes woody, hollow, with few tender leaves.
The pro's trick
Harvest leaves late morning after dew, just before flowering: that's when essential oils are at their peak.
Care
Watering
Keep the soil moist but well-drained, particularly during the growing period. Water regularly without creating waterlogging. In summer, increase frequency during prolonged dry spells. Reduce watering in autumn and winter.
Exposure
Position your round-leaved mint in sunlight (6 to 8 hours minimum) for optimal growth and better aromatic intensity. It also tolerates partial shade, but growth is less vigorous there.
Pruning and pinching
Regularly pinch young stems to encourage a compact, branched habit. Cut off flower spikes as they appear if you prefer a bushier plant. In late winter, cut back dry stems to ground level.
Fertilizer
Enrich the soil at planting with well-decomposed compost. A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient to support growth. Avoid excessive fertilization as it will dilute the aroma.
Soil
Choose rich, loose, well-drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral. Incorporate compost or potting soil at planting to improve structure. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
Diseases and pests
Mint is generally robust but dislikes stagnant moisture which causes rot. Watch for powdery mildew in humid conditions and spider mites in dry weather. Space plants well for good air circulation.
Did you know?
Round-leaved mint, also called apple mint, was already cultivated and appreciated by the ancient Greeks and Romans who used it at banquets to perfume the atmosphere and stimulate appetite. Its Latin name 'suaveolens' means 'sweetly scented,' a direct recognition of its remarkable olfactory charm.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.