Apple mint, Round-leaved mint, Pineapple mint
Mentha suaveolens

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 90 cm high and spreads 90 cm wide. It keeps growing from year to year. It has stolons or runners. The stem is erect and 30-80 cm high. There are lines along the stem. The plant is covered with silvery hairs. The leaves usually do not have leaf stalks. The leaves are round and 2-4.5 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. The flower spikes are 2-4 cm long. The flowers are bluish-purple.

There are 25 Mentha species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp locations. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Albania, Australia, Asia, Balkans, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Crete, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Portugal, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used as a flavouring. The young plant has a pineapple like flavour. They are brewed into tea.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by root cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Astopatana, Hortelana, Jabolčna meta, Poleos, Yuan ye bo he

Synonyms

Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Hud; Mentha insularis; Mentha macrostachya;