How to Grow and Care for Mints

Apple mint is widely known for the fruity fragrance and taste of its leaves. Some use them to add flavoring to teas, salads or garnish. It grows in moist soils and though it is also adaptable it won't prosper in dry ones. It is commonly grown as ground cover which helps stop the growth of weeds.

Spearmint is a member of the mint family and is a common flavor in breath mints and gum. The leaves of spearmint are edible and can be added to salads, smoothies, certain desserts, and even as a flavoring agent for water.

Water mint (Mentha aquatica) is a perennial herb native to Europe and southwest Asia. Water mint is used to make tea. It can also be used to make cologne. The bergamot mint is considered to be a variety of Mentha aquatica.

In many places around the world, it's common for people to make a refreshing tea from the leaves of wild mint (*Mentha arvensis*). It is also popularly used as a flavoring herb. The genus name of this plant, "*Mentha*", was given in honor of the mythological Greek nymph Minthe. According to Greek legend, the goddess Persephone turned Minthe into a mint plant, so Hades couldn't seduce her.

A cross between spearmint and watermint plants, peppermint is commonly found growing in herb gardens or containers. Its leaves can be used to extract oil, which can be used as a raw material for cosmetics.