Peppermint or Spearmint? - Ask Extension
Good Morning
Can you tell from the attached picture if my mint is peppermint or spearmint?
Thanks
Knowledgebase
Peppermint or Spearmint? #852454
Asked October 07, 2023, 7:43 AM EDT
Good Morning
Can you tell from the attached picture if my mint is peppermint or spearmint?
Thanks
Harford County Maryland
Expert Response
I think that you have peppermint, because their stems are purple in color and spearmint has green stems. Also, the leaves of spearmint are a bit larger, spear shaped (hence the name) and can have sharper edges. If your plant has flowers, then it is really much easier to know what you have, the spearmint leaves are white or pinkish and peppermint has darker pink to purple flowers. Peppermint is a cross between spearmint and a water mint. Peppermint also has a more intense bite or chill flavor followed by a cool flavor from the menthol (40%), and spearmint has only a small amount of menthol (0.5%), making it sweeter than peppermint.
