Purple Flowers of the Mint Family
- Hummingbird Mint ( Agastache species)
- Catmint ( Nepeta species)
- Perennial Salvia ( Salvia species)
- Russian Sage ( Salvia yangii)
- Lavender ( Lavendula species)
- Conclusion
What is the lifespan of a mint plant?
Mint takes 70 days to reach maturity, but you can start harvesting leaves once the plant is established. Your mint plant will get bushy and 3-feet or so tall at maturity. Cut off the flowers buds because they take energy from the leaves. You can use the cut flowers in tea or potpourri.
What are mint plants used for?
This freshly fragrant medicinal plant serves a wide variety of purposes. From enhancing your mood to treating indigestion, mint can do it all. This plant requires a lot of water to grow. So you...
Does a mint plant, actually smell of mint?
Speaking with a financial advisor could help. A mint plant smells very strongly of mint. A neat thing about mint plants is that they are easy to grow and there are many varieties that have unique smells. Peppermint, pineapple mint, orange mint, chocolate mint and quite a few more. All of them smell just like their names suggest.
What does a mint plant look like?
What does mint plants look like? Mint is a perennial with very fragrant, toothed leaves and tiny purple, pink, or white flowers. It has a fruity, aromatic taste. There are many varieties of mint—all fragrant, whether shiny or fuzzy, smooth or crinkled, bright green or variegated. Click to see full answer.
What kind of mint grows purple flowers?
Lavender Mint Mentha piperita Lavendula, like all the mints, is very hardy, versatile and invasive. With its delicate purple flowers, lavender mint is a pretty addition to any garden. It's a useful and beneficial mint, both for its medicinal qualities and for culinary purposes.
Does mint have purple flowers?
Yes, mints produce small white or purple flowers at the end of the stems. I prefer to remove these flowers to force the plants to become bushier, but that's entirely up to you. In addition to being used as flavoring, a stem of mint makes a wonderful addition to a bouquet of flowers.
What plant smells like mint and has purple flowers?
A batch of purple horsemint (monarda citriodora) grows in a field. This was a particularly colorful batch. Notice the flowers are a light purple, while the bracts are dark lavender.
What color flowers do mint plants have?
The mint family is extremely large, and offers a range of choices when it comes to bloom color, from white to pink to purple. Several of the most common mints, however, have spiked flowers in a lavender color.
How do I know what kind of mint I have?
2:083:48How to Identify Spearmint and the mint family of herbs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you look here at peppermint. You notice they are not as rough they've got some Ridge to them theyMoreIf you look here at peppermint. You notice they are not as rough they've got some Ridge to them they're a little bit round or a little bit more narrow.
Is purple mint edible?
As a member of the mint family, it has a decidedly minty taste — along with something more — and is used not only to flavor many dishes but also to color them. The pickled vegetables or umeboshi plums for which it's used turn a bright purple color.
How do I know if I have peppermint or spearmint?
This means peppermint is going to have a more intense “minty” flavor that spearmint. So if you grab a leaf of your garden mint and taste it, if it has a really strong minty aftertaste, you are dealing with peppermint. If you have a lighter flavor that borders on sweetness, you're most likely tasting spearmint.
How can you tell Pennyroyal mint?
American pennyroyal is an annual mint with small, oval leaves arranged opposite each other on a square stem. Leaves are entire and may be sparsely-toothed or smooth on the margins. The erect stems grow to 1 ft (31 cm) high from a many-branched root system.
Are any types of mint poisonous?
The Mint family (Lamiaceae) is probably one of the safest in the world. However, several members can be toxic in high dosages or in the case of pregnancy including Creeping Charley (Glechoma hederacea), Perilla (Perilla frutescens), Germander (Teucrium spp.)
Why does my mint have flowers?
Why is my mint flowering? The natural life cycle of the mint plant includes flowering toward the end of summer. Flowering is an indication that your mint plant is healthy and ready to produce seeds. Because mint is perennial, flowering does not signal death, but flowering mint may have diminished minty flavor.
Can you eat mint after it flowers?
Mint flowers are edible and have a similar taste to the leaves. They are minty and fragrant, although the aromas are not as intense as those of the leaves.
Should I remove the flowers from my mint plant?
After mint blooms, it loses some of its essential oil, making the leaves less fragrant and flavorful. Watch for the buds that indicate when the plant is about to bloom. Once buds appear, you can pinch them or cut back the plants.
Wild Violets
Wild Violets are one of the most common weeds with purple flowers you’ll find.
Forget-Me-Nots
While blue flowers are more common, Forget Me Nots can also be pink or purple.
Black Nightshade
Black Nightshade flowers are usually white, but can also be lavender in color.
Purple Dead Nettle
Purple Dead Nettle is a wildflower that’s common in moist growing areas.
Final Thoughts
By now you should have learned about how these different kinds of weeds with purple flowers present themselves. The flowers can be pretty, but it is always good to know when these plants are worth keeping around.
What family is mint in?
Lamiaceae: Mint Family (Labiatae). Identify plants and flowers. If you pick a plant with a distinctly square stalk and simple, opposite leaves, then it is very likely a member of the Mint family. Be sure to smell it too, since many species of the family are loaded with aromatic volatile oils.
How many stamens are in a mint flower?
Inside the flower there are 4 stamens, with one pair longer than the other. As you learn these patterns of the Mint family you will be able to recognize and use them anywhere in the world. Key Words: Square stalks and opposite leaves, often aromatic.
What is the purpose of diaphoretic herb?
Using a diaphoretic herb can help raise a mild fever just high enough to "cook" a virus, thus "break ing" or ending the fever. Volatile oils are also highly lethal to microorganisms.
How many sepals are there in mint?
Notice in the illustration that there are 5 sepals, all fused together so that only the tips are separate.
How many genera are there in the mint family?
Worldwide there are about 180 genera in the Mint Family representing some 3500 species. Approximately 50 genera are found in North America. Medicinally this family is rich in volatile oils, especially menthol, often used as the penetrating vapors in cough drops. These spicy oils are stimulating and warming, causing the body to open up and sweat;
Where is spearmint native to?
Spearmint. Spearmint is not native to North America, but it often escapes cultivation. Mentha arvensis. Field Mint. Mentha arvensis. Field Mint. Photographed along the northern California coast. The same species is found in Montana and the Rocky Mountains, but varies in appearance. Marrubium vulgare.
Can you eat mint leaves after drinking from a creek?
Eating a few Mint leaves after drinking from a creek certainly won't kill everything in the water, but it sure helps. You can safely sample any member of the Mint family.
What is the color of apple mint?
Apple mint often has lighter green leaves than do many mints. It has white or light pink blooms. The leaves can be either oblong or ovate. Functioning equally well as a culinary herb (flavor teas with it, for example) and as a ground cover, its common name derives from its smell and taste, both of which are fruity and minty.
What family are mints in?
They belong to a broader family of plants, Lamiaceae, that is called the "mint family.". This means that the true mints (genus, Mentha) are related to such landscape plants as Salvia and catmint ( Nepeta spp. ).
What is the mint used for in rum?
This type of mint gets its common names from the fact that it is the authentic mint to use when making the rum cocktail known as "mojito" and so intimately associated with Cuba. Its strong aroma and flavor have made it a favorite. But its function as a culinary herb goes beyond using it in mojitos: Try it, too to flavor teas, for example.
What does chocolate mint taste like?
Chocolate mint, a peppermint relative, is an oddball: The "Chocolate" in its name comes from its smell, not its taste. Its taste is actually orangey. It is used to flavor both drinks and desserts. If you are interested in the aesthetic qualities of this herb, know that it bears foliage that is a darker green than most other types of mint, as well as lavender flowers.
Why are mints so popular?
While they do bloom (in summer), their value is generally not in how they look but in the functions they serve. Mints serve as flavorful herbs in the kitchen and as ground covers in the yard. Their strong scent keeps deer from eating them.
What is the botanical name for spearmint?
While spearmint gets its common name from the shape of its leaves, its botanical name could refer to either its foliage or its flowers, which occur on pointy spikes . The flowers are pink to pale violet. Spearmint is a popular flavoring agent for chewing gum and is also used in salads and to flavor teas. Some gardeners prefer the 'Kentucky Colonel' cultivar over others because they feel it has nicer foliage.
What is the use of peppermint?
The foliage is toothed along the margins and dark green. A common use for this herb is to flavor teas, but, as with most types of mint, it is also effective in potpourri.
What is the name of the mint plant that grows in the backyard?
If the mint growing in your backyard has soft, rounded leaves, it might be apple mint ( Mentha suaveolens ). This plant is also called woolly mint because its stems and leaves are covered with fine, soft hairs. Flower spears are white or pale pink. Less minty than peppermint or spearmint, apple mint tastes fruity.
What is the best mint to grow in my backyard?
Spearmint ( Mentha spicata )and peppermint ( Mentha × piperita) are the mint varieties most likely to appear in your backyard. Both have fuzzy leaves with jaggedly toothed edges that smell strongly minty when crushed. Both these mints also bear pale lilac flowers. To distinguish between them, you'll have to take a nibble. A strong menthol aftertaste means peppermint, while a sweet, light flavor means spearmint. Use young spearmint leaves in cooking, peppermint leaves for tea and other drinks.#N#The climate in which the mint is growing can also help you identify it. If you live in a cool climate, your mint is likely peppermint. These plants are hardy down to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3. Spearmint does better with heat and can even thrive in USDA hardiness zone 11.
How tall does lavender mint grow?
Lavender mint ( Mentha x piperita 'Lavender') can grow to 3 feet tall and wide, with large, eye-catching flowers. The lilac blossoms are showy enough to make the plant a garden ornamental, and butterflies love them too. The gray-green leaves surprise you with purple undersides. They smell intensely of lavender, and are often used in potpourris and cooking. If you are using the leaves to flavor food, pick them before the mint plant flowers for best results. Plant lavender mint in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.
How tall does a chocolate mint plant grow?
This fast-growing mint shoots up to 2 feet tall and spreads rapidly enough to be a useful ground cover.
What does it mean when a plant has green leaves?
If a plant's green leaves have a sharp, minty smell, the odds are that it's a member of the large mint family. One trait that's common to all mint species: They aren't shy or retiring.
Can you use Corsican mint for cooking?
Ornamental Corsican Mint. Some mints are not intended to be used for cooking. Instead, you can use ornamental mints to fill in empty sections of a garden with texture and bright foliage. One of these is Corsican mint ( Mentha requienii ), a lovely, short ground cover that doesn't mind being walked on.
Can mint take over a garden?
Some are purely ornamental. One trait that's common to all mint species: They aren't shy or retiring. Left to its own devices, mint will take over a garden bed--and sometimes the entire backyard. Save yourself from the invasion by transplanting mint into containers. But first you have to identify the mint plants.
What is mint plant?
Mint plants are mainly aromatic perennials and they possess erect, branching stems and oblong to ovate or lanceolate leaves arranged in opposing pairs on the stems. The leaves are often covered in tiny hairs and have a serrated margin.
How tall do mint plants grow?
Mint plants are fast growing and can become very invasive. They can reach heights of 60–90 cm and will cpntinue to grow for many years once established.
What family is mint in?
Mints belong to the genus Mentha and comprise approximately 20 species in the plant family Lamiaceae and are growm for their leaves which are widely used as a flavoring. Mint plants are mainly aromatic perennials and they possess erect, branching stems and oblong to ovate or lanceolate leaves arranged in opposing pairs on the stems.
What causes yellow spots on plants?
Small soft bodied insects on underside of leaves and/or stems of plant; usually green or yellow in color, but may be pink, brown, red or black depending on species and host plant; if aphid infestation is heavy it may cause leaves to yellow and/or distorted, necrotic spots on leaves and/or stunted shoots; aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plants
How hot does mint grow?
It is best grown in partial shade to full sun and is generally very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -29°C (-20°F). Care should be taken with variegated varieties which may scorch in full sun.
What color are thrips?
If population is high leaves may be distorted; leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery; leaves speckled with black feces; insect is small (1.5 mm) and slender and best viewed using a hand lens; adult thrips are pale yellow to light brown and the nymphs are smaller and lighter in color
What are the small, dusty, bright orange, yellow or brown pustules on the underside of the
Small, dusty, bright orange, yellow or brown pustules on undersides of leaves; new shoots may be pale and distorted; large areas of leaf tissue die and leaves may drop from plant
What herbs have purple flowers?
Some of the herbs include lavender, chives, sage, rosemary and catnip to mention but a few.
What is the name of the purple flower that grows in a false whorl?
Anise Hyssop. Also called blue giant hyssop, fragrant giant hyssop or the lavender giant hyssop, this herb has purple flowers that appear in showy verticillasters or false whorls. It’s a herb native to North America and can grow to a height of 120 cm and a width of 30cm.
How big does echinacea grow?
Also called the Purple Coneflower, Echinacea is a perennial flowering herb that blooms from the summer all the way to the early fall. It can grow to about 5 feet in the right conditions. Their flowers are large and have a semblance to sunflowers although echinacea have purple petals around the flower.
What are the different types of peonies?
The flowers of the peony herb are in six types namely single, double, semi-double, bomb, Japanese, and anemone. The colors also range from red, purple, yellow, white, pink, and coral. As can be seen here, you can find peony herbs looking very different even when they’re from the same species.
What is the easiest herb to grow?
They’re quite easy to grow as well. 10. Thyme. Thyme is a herb native to the Mediterranean region with bright purple flowers. It grows to a height of about 40 centimeters. It’s a bushy evergreen subshrub which has a woody base and small grayish green leaves. The flowers are at times pink (besides the purple color).
How long does lavender last?
English lave nder herbs bloom for the shortest period, with the blooms lasting only 4 weeks. French lave nder blooms last the longest, usually up to 3 months starting May in the spring. These flowers last until fall.
Where does lavender grow?
Lavender. Lavender is a popular herb also called Lavandula and is in the mint family. It’s a herb native to Africa, Europe, and Asia and flourishes in any well-drained soils, especially in temperate climates. They have many small, spike-like purple flowers growing on their long narrow stems.
