Unusual Mints for Your Garden

Anyone with even the smallest herb garden has no doubt planted peppermint or spearmint. And for most purposes, these two are enough. But if you're a mint connoisseur or just prefer the unusual, there are many varieties of mint that may become your favorite.

Chocolate Mint

This mint gets a mixed reaction; many people claim this variety has the distinct smell of chocolate mixed with peppermint, but others don't smell the chocolate and argue that it is just black-stemmed peppermint. I'm one of the latter, but chocolate mint still has a pleasant aroma that's more complex than regular peppermint. Its deep green foliage is a great enhancement for any garden, and the "chocolate" in the aroma doesn't carry over into the plant's taste; its culinary uses are no different from peppermint.

Chocolate mint is hardy all the way to USDA Zone 3 and grows about a foot tall. It prefers moist soil, not drenched, and keep it in shade in warmer climates.

Curly Mint

The Latin name for this one is mentha spicata crispa. A variety of spearmint with crinkly leaves that have as much aesthetic as culinary value. They're especially pretty, and densely curled, while the plant is a few inches tall. Like all spearmints, it has a milder flavor than peppermint and is perfect for mild, soothing teas. Curly mint makes a nice garnish and enhances salads.

This variety grows to about two feet in height, does best in zones 5 to 8 and likes full sun to partial shade. Curly mint does best with relative neglect and water when its soil dries out.

Pineapple Mint

With light green foliage accented with cream- or white-colored markings, pineapple mint is one of the most aesthetically pleasing mints around. Its scent is slightly fruity and citric, and it tastes like a mild spearmint -- perfect for tea blends where a subdued mint is desirable. Its culinary uses are limited because of the lighter taste, but no mint is as attractive in the garden as pineapple mint. Fortunately it is easy to grow, requiring full sun to some shade and infrequent watering.

Pineapple mint prefers slightly warmer climates than chocolate or curly mint, so growers in zones 6 to 9 can overwinter their plants outside. Like most mints, it doesn't need much attention to grow well.

Water Mint

No, this mint doesn't taste like water. It is actually one of the most pungent mints, and when bred with spearmint, creates peppermint. Only serious mint fans should try this one -- its scent is too much for most culinary uses, but it does make a sturdy, minty tea.

As the name implies, water mint needs to be kept very moist to grow well. Very damp soil is more important than the amount of sunlight it receives, and of course, bring this one inside during winter. It will grow to two or three feet, and is one of the larger mints.

Cat Mint

Better known as catnip, cat mint makes a great tea. Unfortunately, it isn't one of the prettiest members of the mint family and can look and act quite "weedy." Most mints should be grown in containers, and catnip is no exception.

Catnip needs no special care -- give it some sun and infrequent watering. It is as hardy as chocolate mint, so it can survive outdoors even in harsh winters. When fully grown it reaches four feet high, with plenty of flowers that attract lots of bees and butterflies. Of course, catnip growers should expect to see neighborhood cats lounging under the foliage from time to time.

Herb growers have a lot of interesting choices in mints, and everyone eventually finds their favorite variety.