Bowles' Mint, Heart-leaved mint
Mentha x villosa

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A mint herb which spreads and forms mounds. It grows 0.9 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. It has creeping rhizomes and runners. The stems can be erect and simple or branched. The leaves are oblong and 5-10 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are greyish-green above and white underneath. They have fine hairs on them. The flowers are in large spikes. These are shaped like tubes.

There are 25 Mentha species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Haiti, Indonesia, North Africa, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for flavouring.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Janggat, Mint duri, Mojito mint, Oblolistna meta, Ortelaun

Synonyms

Mentha spicata x Mentha suaveolens; Mentha x cordifolia Opiz ex Fresen.; and several others