Curly Mint – This is a fast spreading mint! It has cascading purple flower heads, similar to other mints like spearmint. These flowers attract an unbelievable variety of pollinators! The structure of the mint flowers allows many different sized insects to enjoy the nectar flows, insects large and small and all in between!
Spearmint – Classic mint with spear-shaped leaves and a strong minty flavor.
Mint Root Cronse (Stachys affinis) – This is another mint which likes to run, however it is not super aggressive with its spread like our curly mint. It is also unusual among mints in that it has a small edible tuber that can be dug up and enjoyed in the late fall or early spring when the rest of the plant has died back. These tubers are very much alive and used to propagate more plants each year! The taste is described as water chestnut-like, and I think that’s a good description.
Some people worry about mint spreading, and some people worry about mowing their lawns too much! I wonder if the two could be combined. Mint likes to move and will die out if it cannot spread, so you could change your mowing pattern to get rid of old areas and push it into new territory! All while having a nectar factory along the way!
