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| Orange Mint, a peppermint cultivar |
Good Morning Neighbors,
As promised today we’re going to talk about the Mint Family and its use in Companion Planting. The Mint family is currently known by its scientific name Lamiaceae but in older books and publications you will see the name Labiatae. I’m sure some of you looked that that old name twice but it’s not quite as dirty as you might think. The name refers to the fused upper/lower portions of the flowers which are called lips, and in Latin the word for that is ‘labia’ thus the name. Mint flowers always look a certain way and have a certain shape which most gardeners probably can spot easily even when the flowers are tiny as they have five petals and five united sepals. Typically mints have a square shaped stem but this is not always true and square stems can be found in other plants that are clearly not in the Mint Family. The biodiversity in the family is quite impressive as there are about 236 genera, and up to 7,200 recorded species in the family. One of the most famous members of this family is a tree that is critical to woodworking especially in the maritime trade. Teak (Tectona grandis) has been critical for ship building for centuries because of its ability to resist the weathering of being exposed to whatever Mother Nature throws at a ship. In relation to what all of you out there are liable to use in your gardens the Mint Family has you covered from numerous angles. It’s hard to say which member of the Mint Family is most planted though because in the garden the options are so diverse; for example in your spice rack alone there are at least five perhaps six things that represent the family; Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Oregano and/or Marjoram. If you have a more comprehensive spice rack, you might have, Thai Mint, Lavender, Peppermint, Greek Oregano, Zataar, and the list goes on. Outside of culinary stuff, the Mint Family has several members that have herbal uses as teas and have a history of being used in foods such as candies and chewing gum. On the medicinal side of things many of the mints are known for having antimicrobial properties, and are used in various cough and cold formulas. In the news within the last few years there was a big issue over the use of Menthol in Cigarettes because of how it makes becoming addicted to cigarettes easier by numbing the throat. I’m not even going to get into how a specific variety of Mint makes your Mojito taste the way it does. The point is the Mint Family is large and in charge and today we’re going to have a good look at the ones that are best for your garden.
African Potato Mint (Plectranthus rotundifolius)
I had to include this one because the plant is pretty weird. Most folks have not heard of African Potato Mint, but a look at the scientific name and some will realize this thing is related to Swedish Ivy (P. verticillatus) and Cuban Oregano (P. amboincus) this unusual plant was once grouped with the Coleus, which are also in the Mint Family. Potato Mint is grown for its edible tubers which are said to have some sugars that are not digestible and maybe give some folks gas. The indigestible sugars/starches might also mean that this plant is really useful to those with Diabetes. In addition to the tubers some sources indicate the foliage may also be edible, the one thing that is sure is that this plant does not form tubers until the days shorten and the foliage has died back. The tubers do not store well so perhaps it has some use as a house plant, its companion planting value is unclear.
Anise-Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise-hyssop is not the same plant as Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) and is valued in the garden for a different reason. Medicinally Agastache is useful for its Licorice-scent and its ability to help with coughs and colds. Anise Hyssop is best known for the wide selection of foliage color and its flowers which attract pollinators. As such they pair best with other flowers to create a stable source of food for your pollinators.
Basil (Ocimum species)
Basil is a critical culinary herb that is best used when fresh but loses something in the aroma and flavor department once dried. There are a number of varieties of basil available on the market such as Lemon Basil (Ocimum x africanum), Lettuce Leaf Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Thai Basil (O. b. variety thrysiflora), Blue African Basil (O. kilimanscharicum x basilicum ‘dark opal’) and Cardinal. In short for every need there is a basil to suit your fancy, and as a member of the mint family it’s a good partner for the Nightshades and Asparagus but many references indicate it does not do well near Rue (Ruta graveolens).
Bee Balm (Monarda species)
There are several species of Bee Balm on the market and the one photographed is actually Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosum). What is sold in most garden centers and nurseries is Scarlet Bee Balm (M. didyma) and there is a fair range of bloom colors and types within that. The aforementioned type of Bee Balm from seed typically blooms in its second year, and is considered a native herbaceous perennial. Bee Balm is valued for its intensely colorful flowers which attract pollinators and Humming Birds however its leaves can be made into a tea which was Called Oswego Tea by Colonists when actual tea ran short. As such the chief companion planting use of Bee Balm is to bring in Pollinators which then hit up your other plants.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Some of you probably did not expect this perennial plant to be in this listing, but yes it is a tried and true member of the Mint Family. It is a non-native that in some places has been determined to be invasive and that listing is perfectly understandable. However when in control in your garden, it has a secret superpower for companion planting. Unlike the other plants I’ve spoken of Bugleweed has the ability to make topsoil. The dense mats of foliage and the pretty flowers are all just a cover for what happens under the plant’s ground cover canopy. You see, it creates a little microclimate and haven for decomposers wherever it’s the dominant low-growing plant. It sheds its leaves and dead flowers into that micro-canopy; soil organisms eat that and turn it into topsoil. In addition to this the foliage catches bits of detritus that would otherwise float by in a rain and it gets trapped in there and breaks down. After a few years there might be a quarter to a half inch of fertile topsoil and the best part is that the Bugleweed has grown up so it’s always on top holding that soil in place. If you punch a few holes in that and plant tall things the Bugleweed acts like a living mulch and soil producer. The only catch is you have to remember to water it, Bugleweed is very dramatic about wilting and does not tolerate drought. The big downside to this plant is that it is not edible nor is it safely used as a medicine, but it does bring in pollinators.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
You all knew this was going to be in here, Catnip is a very obvious member of the Mint Family and one of those herbs that you really only grow for one reason. In the southeast it is a short-lived maybe-deciduous perennial that often persists for 2-3 years and may reseed itself from seed. The primary reason to grow this plant is for your cats; however it does also make a decent tea. Drinking catnip as a tea may impart a bit of insect repellant as it contains nepetalactone which can come out in your sweat. As a companion plant Catnip generally can be planted anywhere and if not demolished by a neighborhood cat its flowers are very attractive to pollinators.
Cuban Oregano (Plectranthus aboinicus)
Cuban Oregano is a semi-succulent plant with leaves covered in essential oils and alight fuzz on all surfaces of the plant. Most folks liken its aroma and flavor to it being a love child between basil and Oregano, though the variety called ‘Cerveza and Lime’ adds citrus to the mix at the cost of comparatively smaller leaves. In both cases Cuban Oregano is generally grown like one might grow a Coleus, partial sun regular watering and the expectation that repotting might be needed at least once per year. In terms of pairings Cuban oregano grows well with the Nightshades and its strong sent can stop animals from digging in areas. To that end there is a relative of Cuban oregano called the ‘Piss Off Plant’ (P. caninus) which is inedible but also a straight animal repellant.
Henbit (Lamium amplexcaule)
Henbit is a cousin of Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum), that found itself in the weed listings for no real good reason. It isn’t native but it is the annual plant that creates a purple haze in lawn areas in late winter or early spring in the southeast. Its chief companion plant pairing seems to be just about anything but its not aggressive and falls apart when the weather stays over 70 degrees. It is a good food for poultry and its presence can often tell you that there is an area with decent soil and some regular moisture.
Horehound (Marribum vulgare)
Horehound is a herbaceous perennial that is the source of essential oil for those old school cough drops you see at the pharmacy on the candy rack. The word ‘Hore’ in its name refers to the ‘hoary’ foliage meaning it’s gray and furry. The plants themselves are bitter tasting which discourages grazing animals from messing with them which means they can be used to prevent deer damage but their main value is the flowers which bring in pollinators and some sources suggest that Horehound directly stimulates fruiting in the nightshade family.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Hyssop is not a herb you see in gardens much these days because its use has somewhat fallen out of favor. This may be because of a decline in knowledge of practical applications of herbs or perhaps because Anise-Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) has stolen its thunder. Hyssop is known to be drought resistant and tolerant of sandy soils while preferring full sun exposure. Hyssop’s medicinal value is that its essential oils have antiseptic properties while compounds in the foliage stimulate the nervous system. Compresses made of Hyssop foliage can also help clear up the discoloration of bruises. As a companion plant it’s flower will bring in the pollinators particularly Honey Bees.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s ear is a quintessential cottage garden perennial that has an interesting history as its fuzzy leaves were once used as bandages during the American Revolutionary War and presumably again during the American Civil War. While it is not a native plant, it is hardly one anyone could consider to be an invasive plant due to its low rate of spread. Lamb’s Ear is considered evergreen but usually somewhere in winter in our area it may die back, need the dead leaves cleaned out and then it recuperates by early spring. In terms of companion planting, Lamb’s Ear has a neat trick most people don’t know about. Unlike a lot of other plants Lamb’s Ear has a high rate of evapotranspiration meaning that it can pull water out of the soil and put it back in the atmosphere which makes it useful for handling floods and rainwater retention. Extracts of this plant have antimicrobial effects against Staph bacteria. Lamb’s ear grows well with Lavender and Salvia.
Lavender (Lavendula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’)
Yes, you read that right. Lavender is in the Mint Family, and when you really think about it is that any surprise? Lavender is a genus of about 47 species of plants that have a fair amount of variety and to that end I can say, that only one particular cultivated variety has passed the growing test for our climate and that’s a variety called ‘Phenomenal’ which lived for about seven years when most others can’t even handle three years. Lavender is noted to repel ticks. Before you go nuts with planting lavender because you know you have ticks know that it’s application of the plant’s essential oils. The oil itself can kill ticks but it has to touch them first and the studies behind this were only on the Yellow legged tick found in Africa and the Middle East. There is no telling how well it works on our three most common species of Tick in North Carolina. Lavender is said to repel rodents because of its strong aroma as an essential oil messing with their ability to navigate and forage for food. A third use, repelling Clothing moths and their destructive larvae is proven, but the catch is again that it relies on aromatic essential oils and is best used before a problem is detected. Beyond all the aforementioned, the blooms attract a lot of pollinators, and its foliage and flowers are food-safe
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Although what is pictured is actually Orange Balm (M. o. ‘Mandarina’), which defies the normal rules on growing Lemon Balm the uses of both are the same. Lemon Balm is an fairly common herb that is known for its lemony flavor and fragrance. While it isn’t quite as lemony as Lemon Thyme or Lemon Verbena it makes up for that with being a hardy herbaceous perennial that returns year after year without fail. Lemon Balm seems to pair well with anything just as long as it gets enough sun and irrigation to produce its flowers which are noted to be preferred by Honey Bees.
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
The common problem with the plants we think of as Mints is that they readily escape cultivation and can go invasive. Mountain Mint on the other hand is well-behaved, generally does not escape and can tolerate hotter drier areas and its flowers bring in a plethora of pollinators including a lot of non-aggressive solitary wasps of all colors and shapes. In terms of flavor and scent this plant is similar to Spearmint with a bit of something else it has all the same uses as Peppermint or Spearmint but has a vertical growing habit and woody stems. There are a few species of Mountain Mint and generally they are native to North America. I recommend looking for Blunt Mountain Mint because its leaves are far easier to harvest and use, and its flowering heads are something to behold. As for Companion Planting, this particular mint brings in the pollinators, and some of those pollinators are great at reducing caterpillar populations such as Tomato/Tobacco Hornworms.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Oregano is one of the rare exceptions when it comes to herbs; it is more aromatic and pungent once dried. I jokingly call Oregano ‘Sand Mint’ because of how aggressively it has spread in the test garden but it’s main effect is without comparison, it holds the soil against erosion, it’s flowers in the summer help sustain the pollinator population and it’s dense growth builds the soil in a similar but larger scale to what Bugleweed does. As a Companion plant I’ve found that it’s excellent under fruiting trees such as figs, it suppresses weeds and weed-trees and the figs inevitably grow too tall for the oregano to compete. When the oregano wilts, it means the Figs also need a full irrigation run.
Peppermints (Mentha x piperita)
Although it’s rarely mentioned, Peppermint is actually a stable hybrid; a cross between Watermint and Spearmint. Peppermint has been around and its essential oils are in so many things that a lot of people have no idea that it is a hybrid. It was first identified in Hertfordshire, England and later included in the second edition publishing of Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum in 1696. Peppermint was later added to the London Pharmacopoeia in 1721. Linnaeus gave it the name (Mentha piperita) in1753. With that said, Peppermint really gets around because there are dozens of cultivars in circulation in the horticulture world such as Chocolate Mint (M.x.p. f. citrata ‘Chocolate’), Orange Mint (M.x.p f. citrata) and Strawberry Mint (M.x.p. ‘Strawberry’) and many others. Now this is where I will disagree with may sources on companion planting because they suggest it’s a good Companion for Onions, Beets, Cabbage, Pumpkins, Zucchini and Carrots. The problem is that Peppermint can be very aggressive and so it should be grown in large containers that are raised up off the ground so it cannot escape. Its chief contribution is that when it blooms it brings in the pollinators which can help your garden in general.
Rosemary (Salvia rosemarinus)
Rosemary is ultimately in the Mint Family despite being in the same genus as Sage. Rosemary generally does best in full sun and benefits from early applications of slow-release fertilizer or compost and a 50% cut back every three years or so. Rosemary being one of the primary aromatic herbs does well when paired with Carrots, Cabbage and Nightshades but care must be taken to space these plants out so the Rosemary does not end up being buried in other plant’s foliage.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
The plant in the included image is Golden Sage (S. o. ‘Golden’) which is a cultivar of Common Garden sage. Sage in the southeast is a snort-lived perennial most of the time due to our heat and humidity. It is not uncommon to need to replace a Sage plant every three to five years, though some of the ornamental sages ignore this expectation completely. Sage itself is a major culinary herb that has a lot of uses in the kitchen and also has a few herbal and medicinal uses otherwise. Sage blooms in the cold months and provides nectar and pollen to whatever pollinators are active at the time making it essential for a year-round approach to supporting pollinators. It is stated in a few books that Sage is protective to the cabbage family and may improve their flavor. Sage may also improve carrots but should not be planted with Cucumbers.
Spearmints (Mentha spicata)
Spearmint has a number of varieties on the market with the most well-known being ‘Kentucky Colonel’ which is a bit aggressive unless you’ve got hot dry soil. Spearmint has all the same uses as Peppermint and should be confined to a large pot for your garden’s sake, its flowers also bring in the pollinators.
Thai Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Thai Mint is a different kind of mint because its flavor is noticeably different then Peppermint or Spearmint. It follows the same rules as the other two, except it is a bit pickier about needing fertilizer and irrigation. It should be confined to a large container and it does without fail emerge in late winter before Spearmint and Peppermint is actively growing.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
The Thyme pictured is Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus) which much like Common Thyme is an evergreen low-growing perennial with aromatic leaves. I personally only grow Lemon Thyme because it’s essential for proper lemon pepper gravy and for cooking any form of sea food. Thyme is considered a short lived perennial in the southeastern climate because our summers and lack of a longer winter are not idea for its health. Thyme is known for its herbal-medicinal capabilities as an antimicrobial but in the garden its ability to repel Cabbage worms is noted also.
So that wraps up a pretty detailed look at the mint family and their uses in the garden from the purview of companion planting. As with the Aster Family I know that I definitely did not cover all the popular members but I got most of them today. Hopefully you can put this information to good use in your gardens. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for next week’s post.
