Mint
Mentha spicata · also called Pudina, spearmint
Herb
- Light
- Sunny, Part sun
- Pot size
- Medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres)
- Care level
- Moderate
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; cold-hardy in the ground to about −34.4 °C (−30 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: toxic to pets
Light and position
Full sun or part shade.
Size and pot
NC State lists 1 to 2 feet; Oregon State suggests 10-inch pots for herbs. Our pot band: medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres).
Watering
Needs moist soil; NC State says it does poorly in dry soil.
Potting mix and feeding
Rich, well-drained mix. It spreads aggressively by underground stems, which is why NC State recommends growing it in a container.
Growing through the year
Divide clumps or root stem cuttings.
Winter outdoors
Cold-hardy in the ground to about −34.4 °C (−30 °F). NC State lists USDA zones 4a to 9b. The lower edge of zone 4a, −30 °F, describes plants in the ground; NC State notes that roots in a container are less insulated from cold, so we do not rate a pot below −5 °C.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Can stay out; wrap the pot or move it to a sheltered spot in freezing weather |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Can stay out; wrap the pot or move it to a sheltered spot in freezing weather |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Shelter it or insulate the pot: we do not rate any potted plant for nights below −5 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. USDA describes hardiness zones as general guides based on average yearly lowest temperatures, and they describe plants in the ground. NC State warns that roots in a container are not as well insulated from cold as roots in the ground, and suggests wrapping pots or moving them to a sheltered spot. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Rust and leaf spot.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists mint (Mentha species) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (essential oils); vomiting and diarrhoea mainly follow large amounts.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Medium). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.