Although Water Mint is considered a native plant in Ireland, it is believed that the genus Mentha was brought to us from Italy where it was used by the Romans to scent their baths and homes.
Information on Water Mint.
| Common Name: | Water Mint |
|---|---|
| Family Group: | Lamiaceae |
| Distribution: | View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI) |
Does mint grow in the wild Ireland?
Water Mint or Mismín mionsach in Irish is a native plant and the most common of the Mint family found in Dublin. It grows on damp soil along canals or riverbanks, in marshes and some coastal areas.
Where does mint originally come from?
Most species of mint are native to Europe or Asia but a few are native to Australia. Field mint (Mentha arvensis) is native to both North America and Europe. Mint has been used by various peoples in the Mediterranean area since at least 300 BCE.
Where is the peppermint plant native to?
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species.
Is mint native to UK?
Bees’ favourite.
We tried growing Calamint, a native wild mint from the UK, in open ground one year. It has ACID GREEN leaves & PALE BLUE flowers dotted singly along its stems.
Is mint invasive in Ireland?
Mint plants are easily maintained and if left untended they can spread quite rapidly, making them a rather invasive plant. This invasiveness means they will compete with neighbouring plants for resources and affect them accordingly.
What herbs grow wild in Ireland?
Dandelion Leaves and stalks, Fresh Hawthorn Leaves and flowers, Curly Dock Leaves and Wild Garlic.
Who first used mint?
The herb has been used as a remedy for indigestion since ancient Egyptian times. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids dating back to 1000 b.c. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued it as a stomach soother.
What culture uses mint the most?
It is widely used in Middle Eastern and Greek dishes, including salads, side dishes, and sauces. Fresh mint is a favorite for herbal tea.
What’s the difference between peppermint and mint?
The main difference between mint and peppermint is that peppermint has the strongest flavour when compared to other members of the mint family. Mint refers to aromatic herbs produced by the species of the mint plant (Mentha). Peppermint is one such species.
Is spearmint the same as mint?
What Is Spearmint? Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a type of mint that has a delicately sweet taste used in cooking. It is also a popular ingredient in commercial products such as toothpaste or chewing gum. The leaves of this popular herb look similar to regular mint leaves with a spear shape and bright green color.
Is wild mint invasive?
Mint is one of the most invasive plants you can put in your garden and can take over an entire yard in a matter of a few years. The easiest and least expensive way to prevent this from happening is by planting all mint plants in containers and never putting them in the garden itself.
Is there such a thing as wild mint?
Wild mint (M. arvensis), native in North America and Eurasia, reaches about 1 metre (about 3.3 feet) high. Pennyroyal (M. pulegium) has small oval obtuse leaves and flowers in axillary whorls; it is remarkable for its creeping habit and pungent odour, and it has been…
Is mint invasive in UK?
Most mints are invasive, so you may want to restrict their root run by planting in a bottomless bucket sunk into the ground. Or grow them in a pot in free-draining, soil-based compost. Keep a couple of pots by the kitchen door – one to use for pickings, leaving the mint in the other pot to grow.
Can mint survive winter?
Mint, parsley and rosemary are all hardy plants that will survive even in the snow. However, cold weather will reduce their growth, so you should limit the harvest. If you take too much, the plant may die. Make sure your pots have good drainage – waterlogged roots will rot and die.
What type of mint is British mint?
English mint (Mentha × piperita ‘Mitcham’)
This type of mint is characterised by its intense flavour with a lot of spiciness. It is therefore used for tea, soups and desserts. The leaves of English mint are green and turn red. The plants grow up to 80 cm tall, are perennial and strong-growing.
Is Lavender native to Ireland?
This is a perennial, a native species and it belongs to the Plumbagianaceae family.
Information on Western Sea-lavender.
| Common Name: | Western Sea-lavender |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Limonium recurvum ssp. pseudotranswallianum |
| Irish Name: | Lus liath na Boirne |
| Family Group: | Plumbaginaceae |
| Distribution: | View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI) |
Are sunflowers native to Ireland?
Sunflowers are not a true native species but are a beneficial plant in gardens and our ecosystem. Bees are attracted to sunflowers for their nectar, and they provide seeds for wild birds such as Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Greenfinch and the House Sparrow.
Is lilac tree native to Ireland?
Native to the Balkans, they were introduced here around the end of the 16th century but it was French nurseryman Victor Lemoine in the late 19th century who developed the cultivars that became so popular in the Victorian and Edwardian periods and remain classics today.
What foods grow naturally in Ireland?
A wide range of vegetables are grown in Ireland, the most popular being cabbage, carrots, broccoli, swedes, cauliflower and parsnips. Harvesting of vegetables takes place every week of the year but the main season of production is from July to March.
Is Wild Garlic native to Ireland?
Wild garlic is a truly ancient Irish herb and has been eaten in Ireland for thousands of years. There are so many different stages of wild garlic as it grows through the season. In early spring, I love to eat it raw straight out of the ground.