(70 days. Melissa officinalis) The medieval Frankish king, Charlemagne, had lemon balm planted in every monastery garden for the beauty of its crinkled and wonderfully fragrant foliage and pretty white flowers. Used by herbalists for insomnia and to sooth upset stomach; rub on insect bites to relieve pain and itching; add to tea, use as a cooking herb to impart lemony flavor, or enjoy its aromatherapeutic qualities in a relaxing bath. A good container variety. Perennial.
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Mint Varieties
Lemon Balm
Mint, Chocolate(Mentha piperita) High-voltage contrast punctuates each leaf of this beautiful coleus, providing bold drama to the partially shady corners of your garden in the early spring. Velvety chocolate leaves are each perfectly dotted along the rim with bright mint green, for a luminous look that combines well with White Wedding zinnia or Blondie impatiens. Smells and tastes like Peppermint Patty candy. Grows into a 12 to 15 inch ground cover with intensely fragrant bronze-green foliage. Lavender-pink flowers. Use sprigs with ice cream or other desserts.
Mint, Mojito(60-100 days. Mentha x villosa) The search is over for the ideal mint to flavor the popular cocktail for which it’s named. Genuinely Cuban, this spectacular culinary herb provides the distinct, aromatic and complex taste to the celebrated beverage. Grow Mojito Mint indoors in a sunny spot and enjoy the refreshing taste of mint in your Mojitos all year round! Don’t let the name fool you, however, as the leaves may be used fresh or dried in a bevy of dishes and drinks from around the world. Not as overpowering as other mints. The plants will reach 18-24 inches tall.
Mint, Moroccan(60-100 days. Mentha spicata) “Tea of Good Health” Cool and refreshing, this brew is traditionally sipped from glass teacups with an overindulgence of sugar. Fragrant gunpowder** and refreshing mint brews a soothing cup. Culinary use: Excellent for making tea and mint sauce. Edible lavender/lilac flowers appear in mid to late summer. Medicinal use: Relieves symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Can be used to freshen breath and inhibits the growth of some types of bacteria. Can be gargled to relieve a sore throat. Crushed it can be used on your temples to ease a headache or put directly onto insect stings.
**Indeed it is the making and serving of the tea that is traditional and not necessarily what it is made from. In times past, it has been made from various fresh herbs used singly – like wormwood or mint, with tea – traditionally a dried gunpowder tea from China.
Mint, Peppermint(78-125 days. Mentha x piperita) Peppermint leaves provide a burst of cool flavor, something especially appreciated during the hot summer months! This well-loved herb is strongly aromatic, its fragrance irresistible when added to teas and potpourris, and its flavor unmistakable in candies, salads, and cold drinks! Peppermint, like all mints, is very easy to grow, thriving in containers or spreading readily in the garden. But be careful, it grows so well it might be best confined to containers. Will grow to 3-feet tall, with 3-inch lance-shaped, toothed, purple-tinted leaves. All summer long, the scented foliage is topped with lilac-pink flower spikes! Enjoy!
Mint, Spearmint(90-200 days. Mentha spicata) Most of the mints we use today, including spearmint, came to North America with the Colonists. They used mint teas medicinally for headaches, indigestion and to help them sleep. Mint is also an excellent culinary addition and makes a great tea just for the pure pleasure of it. Leaves impart flavor to iced drinks, sauces, vegetables and lamb. As a general rule, the mint family plants roots vigorously when allowed to grow freely and can be invasive. Grow them in containers to keep them in check.