When planning a herb garden, many gardeners think of the classic green spearmint. But certain mint varieties surprise us by sending up spikes of delicate purple flowers that attract pollinators. If you’re looking for mint plants with purple flowers, you have several beautiful and aromatic options to consider. These plants offer the same easy-growing habits as other mints, with the added bonus of stunning floral displays.
This guide will help you identify, grow, and care for these special mints. You’ll learn which varieties to choose, how to prevent them from taking over your garden, and how to use both the leaves and flowers. Let’s look at how you can incorporate these pretty, pollinator-friendly plants into your space.
Mint Plants With Purple Flowers
Several mint species and cultivars are known for their purple blooms. While all mints can flower, these varieties are particularly noted for the color and abundance of their blossoms. The flowers typically appear on tall spikes above the foliage in mid to late summer.
Growing these mints is very straightforward, as they are generally hardy and adaptable. The key challenge is managing their spread, as most mints are vigorous growers. With proper planning, you can enjoy their beauty without them becoming a nuisance.
Popular Varieties For Your Garden
Here are some of the most reliable and attractive mint plants that produce purple flowers. Each has its own unique scent, flavor, and growth habit.
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
Peppermint is one of the most common mints with purple flowers. Its blooms are a soft lavender-purple and appear on dense terminal spikes. The leaves have a strong, classic peppermint scent and are perfect for teas and culinary uses.
- Flower Color: Pale lavender to purple.
- Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet tall when flowering.
- Key Feature: High menthol content in the leaves.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
While often associated with green leaves, spearmint also produces lovely purple or pinkish-purple flower spikes. Its flavor is sweeter and more subtle than peppermint, making it a favorite for cooking and beverages like mojitos.
- Flower Color: Pinkish-purple to lilac.
- Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet tall.
- Key Feature: The classic flavor for sauces and drinks.
Bowles’s Mint (Mentha × villosa var. alopecuroides)
This is a superb ornamental variety. It forms a mound of rounded, furry leaves and sends up abundant, long-lasting purple flower spikes. It’s less invasive than some other mints and has a pleasant apple-mint fragrance.
- Flower Color: Bright purple.
- Plant Height: Up to 2 feet tall and wide.
- Key Feature: Excellent for garden borders due to its tidy habit.
Grapefruit Mint (Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Grapefruit’)
This citrus-scented mint offers a delightful surprise with its purple blooms. The leaves have a distinct grapefruit aroma, and the flowers add a colorful contrast. It’s fantastic in summer salads and fruit drinks.
- Flower Color: Light purple.
- Plant Height: 1.5 to 2 feet.
- Key Feature: Unique citrus fragrance and flavor.
How To Grow And Care For Flowering Mint
Success with mint plants with purple flowers depends on providing the right conditions and managing their growth. They are not difficult plants, but a few key steps will ensure they thrive and bloom profusely.
Choosing The Right Location
Mint prefers a location with full sun to partial shade. At least 4-6 hours of sunlight is ideal for strong growth and good flower production. The soil should be moist but well-draining.
Because of their spreading nature, consider these planting options:
- Containers: The best method for control. Use a pot at least 12 inches wide with drainage holes.
- In-Ground Beds: Only plant directly in the garden if you don’t mind it spreading. Use root barriers sunk at least 12 inches deep around the planting area.
- Raised Beds: A good compromise, offering better drainage and some containment.
Planting Steps
- Prepare your soil by mixing in some compost for fertility.
- If planting in a container, use a good quality potting mix.
- Place the plant at the same depth it was in its nursery pot.
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
- Space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart if planting multiple in a bed.
Ongoing Maintenance
Water your mint regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. A layer of mulch can help retain moisture. You don’t need to fertilize heavily; a light application of a balanced fertilizer in spring is usually sufficient.
To encourage bushier growth and more flowers, pinch back the stem tips regularly in the early growing season. If the plant becomes overgrown, you can cut it back by up to half its height; it will quickly regenerate.
Managing Mint’s Invasive Tendencies
This is the most important aspect of growing mint. Without control, it can quickly overtake other plants through its aggressive underground runners (rhizomes).
Here are the most effective strategies for containment:
- Container Gardening: This is the simplest solution. Keep mint in its own pot on a patio or deck.
- Root Barriers: Sink plastic edging or a similar material at least 12 inches deep around the planting area.
- Regular Harvesting: Frequently cutting the plant for its leaves helps weaken its spreading vigor.
- Isolated Beds: Plant mint in a bed by itself, away from other perennials.
Remember to check container-grown mint periodically. The roots can sometimes escape through the drainage holes, so lifting the pot occasionally is a good idea.
Harvesting Leaves And Flowers
You can harvest mint leaves at any time once the plant is established. For the best flavor, pick leaves in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun is too hot. The flowers are also edible and make a beautiful garnish.
To harvest:
- Use clean scissors or pinch stems with your fingers.
- Cut stems just above a set of leaves to encourage new branching.
- For flowers, cut the entire spike when about half the flowers are open.
You can use the leaves fresh or preserve them. Drying is a common method, but freezing in ice cube trays with water or oil retains more flavor. The flowers can be used fresh or dried for teas.
Using Purple Flowering Mint
Beyond their beauty, these mints are highly useful. The leaves have all the culinary and medicinal applications of standard mint, and the flowers add an extra dimension.
Culinary Applications
- Beverages: Add fresh leaves and flowers to iced tea, lemonade, or cocktails.
- Salads: Sprinkle chopped leaves and whole flowers over fruit or green salads.
- Desserts: Use as a garnish for cakes, sorbets, or chocolate dishes.
- Sauces: Chop leaves finely for mint sauce or yogurt-based condiments.
Ornamental And Ecological Benefits
The purple flower spikes are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. Planting mint can help support local pollinator populations in your garden.
They also make lovely cut flowers for small, fragrant bouquets. Combine them with other garden herbs and flowers for a simple, fresh arrangement.
Common Problems And Solutions
Mint is generally pest-resistant due to its strong scent, but it can face a few issues.
Rust Fungus
This appears as orange, powdery spots on the undersides of leaves. Improve air circulation by not overcrowding plants and avoid overhead watering. Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly.
Powdery Mildew
A white, powdery coating on leaves indicates this fungus. It often occurs in humid conditions with poor air flow. Treat with a fungicide or a homemade solution of baking soda and water.
Spider Mites
In hot, dry weather, you might see fine webbing on the plant. Spray the foliage with a strong jet of water to dislodge them or use an insecticidal soap.
Most often, problems arise from plants being too crowded or too dry. Ensuring good spacing and consistent moisture prevents many of these issues.
Propagating Your Mint Plants
It’s easy to create new plants from an existing mint plant. This is a cost-effective way to expand your collection or share with friends.
The two simplest methods are stem cuttings and division.
Propagation By Stem Cuttings
- In spring or early summer, cut a 4-6 inch healthy stem tip.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
- Place the cutting in a glass of water, ensuring no leaves are submerged.
- Put it in a bright spot, changing the water every few days.
- Roots should appear in 1-2 weeks. Once they are an inch long, pot the cutting in soil.
Propagation By Division
This is best done in spring or fall. Carefully dig up a mature plant. Use a sharp knife or spade to cut the root ball into several sections, each with healthy roots and shoots. Replant each section immediately and water well.
Design Ideas For Your Garden
With their attractive foliage and flowers, these mints can be more than just a herb plot plant.
- Container Displays: Plant a single mint variety in a decorative pot as a focal point on a patio table.
- Pollinator Borders: Use clumps of Bowles’s Mint or other tidy varieties at the front of a sunny border to attract bees.
- Fragrant Pathways: Plant low-growing mints between stepping stones; they release scent when brushed against.
- Kitchen Door Garden: Keep a pot of flowering mint right outside your door for easy harvesting.
FAQ About Mint Plants With Purple Flowers
Are All Purple Flowering Mints Edible?
Yes, the leaves and flowers of all common garden mint varieties mentioned here are edible. Always be sure you have correctly identified the plant as a Mentha species before consuming it.
Will My Mint Plant Flower In Its First Year?
It often depends on when you plant it. If you plant a well-established starter plant in the spring, it may produce some flowers in its first summer. Plants grown from seed are less likely to flower in the first year.
Should I Cut Off The Flowers To Encourage More Leaf Growth?
If your primary goal is a large harvest of leaves, then yes, pinching off the flower buds as they form will direct the plant’s energy into foliage production. However, allowing it to flower benefits pollinators and provides ornamental value.
Can I Grow These Mints Indoors?
Absolutely. Place the pot in a south or west-facing window where it gets several hours of direct sunlight. Rotate the pot regularly for even growth, and be vigilant about watering, as indoor air can be dry.
What Is The Best Mint With Purple Flowers For Shade?
Most mints prefer sun but will tolerate partial shade. Spearmint and Bowles’s Mint are among the more shade-tolerant options. They may produce slightly fewer flowers in shade but will still grow well.
Adding mint plants with purple flowers to your garden is a simple way to combine utility with beauty. They provide aromatic leaves for your kitchen, vibrant flowers for pollinators, and a reliable, hardy presence in your garden. By choosing the right variety and managing its growth, you can enjoy these versatile plants for many seasons to come. With the care tips outlined here, you’ll be well-equipped to grow healthy, flowering mint successfully.