Ginger Mint

Ginger Mint, Mentha x gracilis, is a hybrid of spearmint and corn mint grown for its warm, spicy fragrance that combines mint with a subtle ginger-like note. It is also known as Scotch mint or Vietnamese mint in some regions. The plant is notable for its ornamental foliage, with narrow pointed green leaves often variegated with golden-yellow streaks and veins that brighten a herb bed. Growing 1 to 2 feet tall, it spreads by runners like other mints and bears small clusters of lilac flowers. The spicy-sweet leaves are used in teas, fruit salads, and Asian-inspired dishes. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, Ginger Mint is propagated from cuttings or division and, as with all mints, is best contained. It is valued equally for its unusual flavor and its variegated, decorative leaves.