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Herbs - CulinaryHerbaceous Perennial

Mentha × piperita f. citrata

eau de Cologne mint

A strong-growing perennial forming a wide colony of dark purple stems bearing oval leaves tinged with purple, and scented like Eau de Cologne, with tiny pale purple flowers in dense spikes in late summer

Other common names

bergamot mint
lemon mint
see moreorange mint

Synonyms

Mentha 'Eau de Cologne'
Mentha × piperita 'Citrata'
see moreMentha × piperita f. citrata 'Lemon'
Mentha citrata

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Suckering
Genus: Mentha are aromatic, rhizomatous perennials with opposite, toothed leaves and small tubular flowers in spikes of whorls in summer
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a poor, moist soil in full sun. Grow in moist but well drained soil in full or partial sun. May have the potential to become a nuisance; restrict the root run in a deep container and plunge into the ground, or plant in a well chosen site where it can grow unrestricted. See mint cultivation for more information

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sowing in containers in a cold frame in spring. Divide plants in spring or autumn. Softwood cuttings may be taken in the spring. Pieces of rhizome can be potted up at any time of the growing season and grown on until established after which they can be planted out

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back old stems at the end of the year to ground level

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and mint rust

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