Mentha suaveolens | Apple Mint
Also known as "fuzzy mint" or "woolly mint", apple mint plants have woolly stems, fragrant serrated leaves and terminal spikes that bear white or light pink flowers beginning in late summer or early autumn. When in flower the bees love this plant.
Since apple mint can be invasive, it is wise to consider its placement, and we confine our plant to a large container which we then bury in the garden. The plants appreciate rich soil that drains well. If spreading is not an issue, you can plant directly into the ground. Florists such as Erin Benzakein from Floret cite Apple Mint and our Variegated Pineapple Mint as fantastic foliage plants particularly when not much else is on offer in early spring and they add a wonderful scent to bouquets with their fruity fragrance and Apple Mint is such a beautiful mid green colour.
In the autumn, simply cut back all apple mint to the ground and cover with a 5cm layer of mulch if you suffer from harsh winters.
Apple mint has a variety of uses. Bruised apple mint leaves added to a pitcher of ice water with lemon make the perfect “afternoon in the shade” summer treat. Dried apple mint leaves are a delicious warm tea that is perfect for cooler weather. For drying, harvest the leaves when they are fresh by cutting the stalks just before they bloom. Hang the stalks to dry and store them in airtight containers.
You can of course also use fresh apple mint leaves as a pretty and fragrant dessert topping, as salad additions or to make tasty apple mint dressings.
We have a wonderful cookbook on using botanical ingredients - Blooms & Baking by Amy Ho as well as making fabulous botanically inspired cocktails with this book Wild cocktails from the Midnight Apothecary - Recipes using home grown and foraged fruits, herbs and edible flowers by Lottie Muir
Height to 60cm - spreading enthusiastically if not contained!
Perennial | Hardy
Plant size PB2 | Equivalent 1.2 litre
- Auckland City | $12 minimum
- Middle North Island | $15 minimum
- Rest of North Island | $16 minimum
- South Island | $25 minimum
Upon checking out, the freight charged is applied based on weight and your location, including rural destinations.
- All of our orders are dispatched using NZ Post which is a fully tracked service
- Our freight is calculated by weight and volume. For plant orders, you may wish to order the maximum number of plants that will fit in a box to make freight more cost-effective or perhaps share an order with a friend
- Plant orders will only be dispatched on Monday's and Tuesday's this will ensure that your order is not held in a depot over the weekend
- All parcels are set at "Authority to leave" which means if you're not home at the time of delivery the courier will leave your parcel in a safe place on your property
- Most NZ Post deliveries are a two-day service with the exception of rural and South Island delivery which may add up to two days.
QUESTIONS RE DELIVERY?
Please get in contact with us here or email us at hello@puririlaneaddenbrooke.co.nz