A number of years ago, before I realized how invasive mint was, I planted peppermint in my family garden. I did my best to dig it all up at the end of the season. To my surprise, next spring a number of mint bushes popped up, inside and outside the garden fence. From the taste, I strongly suspect it is spearmint. Now, we have tons of it outside the garden. It is fun to pick and eat. I also dehydrate it to store and make tea with. Can one of the mint experts here please look at the two pics and confirm the identity. If it is not spearmint, it is definitely not peppermint, as it has a different taste and look. In addition, how did the different type of mint appear? Did the peppermint breed with something nearby? Thanks
WELCOME to GardenStew Dragon and I hope you'll make your stay with us a long one. :-D The leaves in your second picture certainly look like spearmint to me. Here's a website that shows pictures of different types of mint that will help you out. It shows ten mints. http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Slideshow:Types_of_Mint#1
Eileen, Thanks for the welcome, info and link. I thought it was spearmint, as the scent reminds me of Wrigley's Spearmint gum. I'm still dying to know how it got there.
Welcome from Washington state, dragon. Eileen love the link with photos. I especially liked reading about their different uses. Thanks.
Dragon, welcome to the friendliest, most knowledgeable, and kindest gardening forum! About that mint--it may have come in from a neighboring state . Mint can run underground for an amazing distance, then pop up. Also, if your mint set blossoms and then seed, it may have been spread by a bird. It really looks like spearmint, which in my opinion is preferable to peppermint. Try chopping a bit with apples, berries of your choice, and a bit of honey mixed with lemon juice. This is the ultimate fruit salad!
And if you planted more than one,, its also possible one was mismarked when you bought it. That is very common. Many time I have just seen it marked Mint without telling which mint it is. One thing I do is to put a bunch of it in a blender for a second to crush it then add the crushed mint to about a pint of water with a cup of sugar added and simmer about 20 minutes and strain. Keep in refrigerator and use for drinks. I love hot mint tea in the winter or iced in summer. Just pour some mint syrup in cup or glass.
I think peppermint is also a hybrid if it flowered and he seeds grew that could be possible? I am a mint addict and I have seen mint overtake pots so seeing that in ground doesn't surprise me
I dry allot in my pantry. I have little pieces of wood that I string and hang lots of things. I have so much parsley, mints and oregano and the like. Then I freeze some also. I have good stock of that kind of stuff for the Winter.