Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Labrador, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan
AnemoneProjectors ( talk )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Genus:
- Mentha
- Species:
- Mentha arvensis
- USDA Symbol:
- MEAR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
aeroplane looper moth (Diachrysia aereoides), Hermit sphinx (Sphinx eremitus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius) Butterflies:Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Crescents (Phyciodes Hübner), Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Wild Indigo Duskywing (Gesta Evans)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire or mowing.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in wetlands and along streams
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover. Germinates best at 65-70°F.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Single-step cold-moist stratification for temperate woodland species. for 60–120 days
Source: Claude AI