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8. Mojito
Hailing from Cuba, Mojito mint, M. x villosa, has large leaves with a mild flavor and citrusy notes that make it an excellent choice for hot and cold beverages as well as dipping sauces, marinades, and salad dressings.
Mojito mint plants grow up to 24 inches tall with a spread of up to 36 inches.
Spreading rapidly, it makes a fast-growing ground cover or can be cultivated in pots to keep growth in check. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
Starter plants are available at Burpee.
9. Orange
A citrusy delight, M. x piperita f. citrata ‘Orange’ has soft, rounded leaves with a lively, refreshing combination of orange and menthol notes that give bright, clean flavors to desserts, dressings, fruit or grain salads, herbal teas, iced drinks, and jelly – or anything chocolate!
Plants grow up to 24 inches tall and wide and produce lovely spires of mauve to pink flowers for attracting pollinators. Cultivate in planters and pots to curtail their vigorous growth. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
You can find starter plants available at Burpee.
10. Pennyroyal
Once widely used in traditional folk medicine, pennyroyal, M. pulegium, has small, narrow leaves and is now mostly grown as an ornamental for its strong scent and pretty tufts of mauve flowers. Note that these plants can be toxic if ingested in large doses.
A low-growing or erect creeper, pennyroyal grows six to 12 inches tall and can spread as much as 36 inches.
Pennyroyal is ideal as a ground cover or can be grown in planters to keep their spread contained. Hardy in Zones 6 to 9.
Seeds in a variety of packet sizes are available at True Leaf Market.
11. Peppermint
One of the best known mint varieties, peppermint (M. × piperita) is popular in the garden for its dark green foliage with a strong, crisp aroma that adds delicious, sweet flavor to hot or cold beverages, fruit dishes, pesto, sauces, salads, and chilled soups.
Plants grow 24 to 36 inches tall and spread up to 24 inches, producing gorgeous spires of mauve to purple flowers in summer.
Another robust grower that can take over the garden, cultivate in containers to manage its spread. Hardy in Zones 3 to 11.
Organic seeds in a variety of packet sizes are available at True Leaf Market.
Or you can purchase two-packs of three-inch pots at Walmart.
And don’t forget to check out our guide to growing peppermint for more information.
12. Pineapple
Grown for both culinary and ornamental purposes, pineapple mint, M. suaveolens ‘Variegata,’ is one of the most attractive varieties.
The soft, wooly leaves of jade green with cream or yellow edging have a sweet, tropical fragrance and make a tasty addition to cocktails, desserts, fruit salads, and punch.
Pineapple mint plants grow in clumps of 24 to 36 inches tall and wide and are slower growing than other varieties, making them suitable for beds or containers. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
Starter plants are available at Burpee.
13. Spearmint
Prized for its bright, refreshing flavor, spearmint, M. spicata, has narrow, lance-shaped leaves popularly used in cold and hot beverages, candies, desserts, dressings, salads, and sauces.
Plants grow 12 to 24 inches tall and wide and develop multiple spikes of soft mauve flowers in late summer.
Vigorous growth can make it aggressive in the garden but plants are easily cultivated in containers. Hardy in Zones 3 to 11.
Container-grown plants are available at Nature Hills Nursery and seeds in a variety of packet sizes can be purchased at Eden Brothers.
Learn more about growing spearmint in our guide.
14. Watermint
A water lover that grows mainly in wetlands, watermint or water mint, M. aquatica, has dark green, fragrant leaves that are used in baked goods, herbal teas, iced drinks, and salads.
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