Peppermint is one of the most cherished herbs in the garden, prized for its invigorating fragrance, cooling flavor, and versatile uses in the kitchen, medicine cabinet, and even in the garden itself. Whether you enjoy it brewed in a soothing tea, blended into desserts, or used to freshen up a corner of your patio, adding different peppermint varieties to your herb collection brings both beauty and practical value. Let’s explore 8 peppermint plants you can grow for a refreshing, aromatic garden experience!
1. Black Peppermint (Mentha × piperita ‘Black Mitcham’)
Black Peppermint is one of the most popular and intensely aromatic peppermint varieties. Recognized for its deep purplish-green stems and dark green leaves, this variety offers a strong menthol flavor ideal for teas, desserts, and medicinal balms. It thrives in both containers and garden beds, preferring moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. Its vigorous growth and bold fragrance make it a standout addition to any herb collection.
2. White Peppermint (Mentha × piperita ‘White’)
White Peppermint is a milder, sweeter version of its black counterpart, known for its bright green leaves and light green stems. It’s a perfect choice if you prefer a subtler flavor for culinary uses like infusions, desserts, and cocktails. White Peppermint grows best in consistently moist, rich soil and partial sunlight. Its refreshing, gentle aroma makes it a lovely border plant or potted herb for patios and kitchen windowsills.
3. Chocolate Mint (Mentha × piperita ‘Chocolate’)
As the name suggests, Chocolate Mint combines classic peppermint flavor with a hint of cocoa. Its lush, dark green leaves and chocolate-brown stems release a sweet, dessert-like aroma, perfect for enhancing ice cream, baked goods, and herbal teas. This variety grows up to 2 feet tall, flourishing in well-drained soil with moderate moisture. It spreads quickly, so consider containing it in a pot or raised bed to manage its growth.
4. Ginger Mint (Mentha × gracilis)
Also known as Vietnamese Mint, Ginger Mint adds a warm, spicy undertone to the coolness of peppermint. Its bright green leaves are splashed with yellow, offering both flavor and visual interest in herb gardens. It’s excellent for infusions, fresh fruit salads, and garnishing summer drinks. This variety loves moisture and light shade and thrives in both containers and garden beds, making it a versatile and attractive plant for any collection.
5. Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens)
Though technically a hybrid of peppermint and spearmint, Apple Mint deserves a spot for its fuzzy, rounded leaves and soft, fruity-mint aroma. The flavor is sweeter and less sharp than classic peppermint, making it ideal for teas, fruit dishes, and garden borders. Apple Mint grows up to 2-3 feet tall in moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade. Its textured leaves and upright growth add charm to herb gardens and containers alike.
6. Lemon Mint (Monarda citriodora)
Though part of the bee balm family rather than true mint, Lemon Mint is often grouped with peppermint varieties for its strong citrus-mint scent and flavor. Its slender, bright green leaves emit a refreshing lemony fragrance, perfect for herbal teas and summer drinks. Lemon Mint produces pretty purple flowers, attracting pollinators to the garden. It thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil and reaches about 2-3 feet in height, offering both ornamental and culinary appeal.
7. Variegated Peppermint (Mentha × piperita ‘Variegata’)
For a visually striking addition to your herb garden, Variegated Peppermint features green leaves edged with creamy white margins. It maintains the classic peppermint fragrance and flavor while adding ornamental interest to herb beds, window boxes, and containers. This variety prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, and like other mints, spreads vigorously, so it’s wise to plant it in a contained area. It’s excellent for fresh arrangements and culinary uses.
8. Swiss Ricola Mint (Mentha x piperita f. citrata)
Famous as the mint used in Ricola herbal cough drops, this Swiss peppermint variety offers a balanced menthol-citrus flavor profile. Its upright, lush green growth and aromatic leaves make it a popular choice for both medicinal and culinary gardens. It grows 18-24 inches tall in rich, moist soil with good sunlight. Perfect for soothing teas and herbal remedies, it’s both practical and beautiful, adding an alpine herb garden feel to your collection.
Final Thoughts
Peppermint plants are more than just fragrant additions to your herb garden — they’re versatile culinary herbs, natural remedies, and attractive ornamentals. From the intense Black Peppermint to the dessert-scented Chocolate Mint and vibrant Variegated Peppermint, these 8 delightful varieties will refresh your herb collection with beauty and invigorating aromas. Whether you’re growing them for kitchen use, herbal teas, or simply to fragrance your garden, these peppermint plants are guaranteed to impress.
Would you like me to create a care and harvesting guide for these peppermint varieties too? I’d be happy to help!
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