Mentha spicata - Strawberry mint
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Mentha spicata is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.

It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. A strong spearmint flavour, they are used as a flavouring in salads or cooked

The Strawberry Mint, offers a refreshing and pleasant taste of spearmint and smells faintly of sweet strawberries. Its leaves are commonly used in mint sauce and the essential oil from its leaves and flowers is a popular flavoring in sweets, ice cream, and beverages. Enhance your meals and drinks with the clean and invigorating flavor of Strawberry Mint.

Teas

Strawberry mint makes a lovely refreshing mint tea. A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments.

Medicinal Uses

It is a commonly used domestic herbal remedy and the herb is antiemetic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, restorative, stimulant and stomachic.

The leaves should be harvested when the plant is just coming into flower, and can be dried for later use. The stems are macerated and used as a poultice on bruises.

The essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic, though it is toxic in large doses. Both the essential oil and the stems are used in folk remedies for cancer. A poultice prepared from the leaves is said to remedy tumours.

For more information you can visit the PFAF (plants for a future) website here.

1 Plant supplied in 0.5l pot