Sweetly scented foliage with a fruity strawberry aroma makes Strawberry Mint a delightful addition to herb gardens, containers, and kitchen gardens. The fresh green leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season for teas, desserts, fruit salads, and summer drinks, while clusters of pale pink to lilac flowers attract a wide range of pollinating insects.
Strawberry Mint combines the vigorous growth and easy-going nature of traditional mints with a distinctive fruity fragrance. Perfect for growing in pots to keep its spreading habit under control, it provides a continuous harvest of aromatic leaves from spring until autumn and is a wonderful choice for sensory gardens.
Perennial Herb
Edible, Aromatic, Fast Growing, Pollinator Friendly
Flowers: July to September
Foliage: March to November
Scientific Name
Mentha ‘Strawberry’ (strawberry-scented mint)
Synonyms
Often sold as Mentha ‘Strawberry’ or Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Strawberry’, depending on the supplier.
Common Name
Strawberry Mint
Origin
A cultivated mint variety developed for its distinctive fruity aroma. It originates from garden selections within the Mentha genus, which is native across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America.
Pruning Tips
Harvest stems regularly throughout the growing season to encourage fresh, bushy growth. Cut plants back to a few centimetres above ground level in late autumn or early spring before new shoots emerge.
Wildlife Value
The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making Strawberry Mint a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.
Positioning
Thrives in full sun or partial shade. Ideal for herb gardens, raised beds, kitchen gardens, and containers. Growing in a pot is recommended, as mint can spread vigorously when planted directly into the ground.
Water
Prefers consistently moist soil. Water regularly during dry weather, particularly when grown in containers, and avoid allowing the compost to dry out completely.
Soil
Prefers fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Grows well in most garden soils provided they do not become excessively dry.
Food
Apply a mulch of garden compost in spring to support healthy growth. Container-grown plants may benefit from occasional feeding with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season.
Pet-safe
Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Sprouts Top Tips
Grow Strawberry Mint near a seating area or pathway where its sweet fragrance can be enjoyed whenever the leaves are brushed against. The leaves make a delicious addition to summer drinks, fruit salads, and homemade iced teas.
Did You Know?
The distinctive strawberry aroma comes from naturally occurring aromatic compounds in the leaves. While the flavour still has the cooling freshness associated with mint, many gardeners find it sweeter and fruitier than traditional spearmint or peppermint.
