1 named cultivar

‘Apple Mint’Apple Mint

perennial

Apple Mint

Mentha suaveolens

The Story

Plant Bio

Mentha suaveolens, apple mint, is a rhizomatous upright perennial from southern and western Europe, growing one to two feet high. The rounded leaves are soft, wrinkled and downy, greyer than most mints, and release a mild apple-tinged scent when crushed. Spikes of small pink to white flowers open in July and August and draw butterflies.

Like every mint it runs by rhizome and will take over open ground, so plant it in a sunken container or a bed it cannot leave, and check the edges each spring. Its softer, less peppery flavour and downy leaves make it the mint of choice for drinks and desserts rather than for sauces.

Uses & Benefits:

Soft, downy, grey-green wrinkled foliage with pink to white flower spikes in high summer.

A mild, apple-scented culinary mint that also makes fast ground cover in moist informal ground.

The summer flower spikes are heavily worked by butterflies and bees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

20 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Medium to high

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southern and western Europe

Toxicity

Edible

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in full sun to part shade.
Use rich soil that stays moist; it dislikes dry ground.
Sink a container or install a barrier before planting.
Water regularly through the growing season.
Shear after flowering to bring on fresh leaf growth.
Check the barrier each spring for escaping rhizomes.

Pro Tip

Shearing the whole plant after flowering resets it; the new leaves that follow are far better for the kitchen than tired flowering stems.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Contain it in a sunken pot or barrier 🪣
Keep the soil rich and moist 💧
Shear it after flowering for fresh leaves ✂️
Check the edges each spring 🌱

Don't

Plant it loose in a border ❌
Let the soil dry out ❌
Assume it will stay in its allotted space ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Check
Shear

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Contained herb garden plantingGround cover in moist informal areasPond margin and damp woodland edge

Companion Plants

Lemon Balm Chives Bee Balm Sweet Flag Lovage

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Apple Mint questions

What zones can Apple Mint grow in?

Apple Mint is hardy in USDA Zones 5–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Apple Mint deer resistant?

Yes — Apple Mint is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Apple Mint bloom?

Apple Mint typically blooms in midsummer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Apple Mint need full sun?

Apple Mint does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.