What soil does Spearmint grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay.

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Spearmint flower?

Flowering: July–October, pink, white, purple.

How much water does Spearmint need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Spearmint — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

One of the best-flavoured kitchen mints: its fresh, sweet-scented leaves go into tea, cold drinks, salads and meat dishes, and bees and butterflies like its summer flower spikes. It grows fast in moist, rich soil in sun or part shade and dislikes dry ground. It spreads very strongly by runners and rhizomes, so plant it in a pot or tub, or in a bed enclosed by a root barrier.

Watch out for

It spreads aggressively by rhizomes and by stems that root where they touch the soil, and can swamp its neighbours within a few years: grow it in a pot, a sunken container or behind a root barrier. Mint rust is common: shoots come up distorted in spring, dusty orange pustules appear on stems and leaves and the foliage drops. Remove infected plants together with their rhizomes and start a new patch elsewhere from healthy shoots. Leaf spot also occurs.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–October, pink, white, purple

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	0.3–1 m × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–October, pink, white, purple
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €3.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials for clay soil Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

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