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Peppermint | |
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| | Labiateae (Lamiaceae)
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is a herbaceous perennial that grows well in damp places. Although roots may extend into flowing water, the plants do not tolerate stagnant water, and grow best on muck or deep, loosely textured, sandy loams with considerable humus. Peppermint is a cross which is sterile and cannot produce seeds, but is capable of spreading vegetatively by stolons. There are two main commercial products derived from mint plants. The majority of commercial mint is steam distilled for its essential oil derived from leaves and stems. This oil is used in everything from confectionaries and liquers to oral care products and household sprays. A smaller portion of leaves and stems are used fresh or dehydrated to produce teas and jellies and by the culinary industry to flavor meat and vegetable dishes. There is currently a small Alberta mint industry (essential oils) deals with peppermint and various other mint crops.
Peppermint
(note the creeping stolons) | 
Peppermint flower |
Photos: V. Sowiak |
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko.
This document is maintained by Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on June 11, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 14, 2009.
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