Mint

Origin: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America

Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Scientific Name: Mentha spp.

Selected Varieties:

• Pennyroyal: Mentha pulegium
• Peppermint: Mentha piperita
• Spearmint: Mentha spicata

Magical

Element: Air
Day: Wednesday
Planet: Mercury
Zodiac: Gemini
Deities: Demeter, Hades, Menthe, Pluto, Zeus

Parts used: Leaves

Magical Properties: Protection, healing, purification, prosperity, love, travel

Substitutions: Sage

Magical Uses

• Keep mint in the home for protection.
• Carry mint to protect against the evil eye.
• Stuff a poppet with mint to aid with digestive/stomach problems.
• Cleanse evil from a space by asperging salt water using a bundle of fresh mint, marjoram, and rosemary.
• Use mint in prosperity and money workings: Keep a few leaves on your person to aid with business deals, or in your wallet to attract money.

Botanical

Mentha contains 13-24 distinct species, whose native range includes most continents (excluding South America and Antarctica). As these species hybridise extremely readily, with hundreds/thousands of described taxa, and over 3,000 names recorded (mostly synonyms and illegitimate names).

Type: Herb
Plant Height: 10-120cm
Spread: Indeterminate
Stems: Square, erect stem, with above-ground runners Leaves: Opposite, oval-to-lance-shaped, often downy, with serrated edges
Flowers: White-to-purple in false whorls/vertical spikes
Fruit: Nutlet with 1-4 seeds

Etymology: Both ‘mint’ and the genus name ‘mentha’ derive from the Greek Minthe, the name of a nymph associated with the river Cocytus, who was transformed into the plant in the myth of Hades and Persephone.

In the Garden

Type: Perennial
Sow: Spring
Light: Partial shade
Water: Keep moist
Soil: Rich

Companion Planting: Plant near roses to deter aphids.

Tips:

• Mint is more effective grown from cuttings or division than seed.
• Mint is famous for overtaking gardens if grown in the ground - to prevent this, grow in pots, or be sure to plant into a bottomless container extending at least 30cm underground and slightly above, so that only above-ground spread needs to be actively managed.
• If planting multiple types of mint, be sure not to plant them near each other, as this tends to result in them losing their individual flavours/scents.