Water Mint
Mentha aquatica
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Angola, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Madeira, Malawi, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sardegna, Sicilia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia
Burschik (en.wikipedia.org) at English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Genus:
- Mentha
- Species:
- Mentha aquatica
- USDA Symbol:
- MEAQ
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, lavender, purple
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and along water bodies
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and keep moist. Often propagated by division or cuttings.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI