Spearmint

Spearmint, Mentha spicata, is the most widely grown culinary mint and the classic mint of cooking and drinks. Native to Europe and Asia and naturalized worldwide, it is a vigorous spreading perennial that forms dense colonies by underground runners. Its bright green, spear-shaped leaves carry a sweet, clean mint flavor lower in menthol than peppermint, making it the preferred mint for savory dishes, mojitos, teas, tabbouleh, and mint sauce. The plant reaches 1 to 3 feet tall and bears slender spikes of pale purple to white flowers that draw bees. Extremely hardy and easy to grow in USDA zones 3 to 11, spearmint spreads aggressively and is best contained in pots or bordered beds. It is typically propagated by division or cuttings rather than seed.