Mentha spicata var. crispa

RHS Plant Profile

curly spearmint

RHS

Other common names

curly mint, suza-minze

Synonyms

Mentha spicata 'Crispa'
Mentha viridis var. crispa
Mentha crispa
Mentha crispa L. (1753)

Herbs - Culinary Herbaceous Perennial

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An aromatic perennial to 60cm, spreading by creeping rhizomes. The leaves are bright green, broad and crinkled. Whorls of tiny, pale purple flowers appear on terminal spikes in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Mentha are aromatic, rhizomatous perennials with opposite, toothed leaves and small tubular flowers in spikes of whorls in summer
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a poor, moist but well drained soil in full sun, and protect from excess winter wet. May have the potential to become a nuisance; restrict its spread by planting in deep containers and plunging them into the soil, or by growing in small, contained beds. Plants grown in pots will benefit from dividing every few years. See mint cultivation for more information

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to blue mint beetle, leafhoppers and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and mint rust