Spearmint sends up small spikes of pale purple or white flowers atop its familiar, coolly fragrant foliage, though most gardeners grow it for its leaves rather than its modest bloom.
Native to Europe and Asia, spearmint has naturalized widely and become one of the most popular culinary herbs worldwide. Its vigorous, spreading habit means it's usually best grown contained, whether in a pot or a sunken container within a bed.
Mint traditionally symbolizes virtue and warmth of feeling, and in ancient Greek mythology, it was tied to the myth of Minthe, said to have been transformed into the fragrant herb.
Spearmint wants full sun to partial shade and consistently moist soil, spreading aggressively via underground runners if planted directly in the ground. Growing it in a container, even one sunk into a garden bed, keeps this vigorous herb from taking over neighboring plants.
Spearmint has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for soothing digestive upset, and its fresh leaves remain a hugely popular culinary and tea ingredient worldwide today.
