Mint is a perennial with very fragrant, toothed leaves and tiny purple, pink, or white flowers. It has a fruity, aromatic taste. There are many varieties of mint—all fragrant, whether shiny or fuzzy, smooth or crinkled, bright green or variegated. However, you can always tell a member of the mint family by its square stem.
The 5 petals are also fused together, but note how asymmetrical or “irregular” the flowers are, compared to the more symmetrical or “regular” Mustard flowers. Some Mint flowers are much more irregular than others, but if you study them closely you will see that they typically have 2 petal lobes up and 3 petal lobes down.
What causes mint plants to flower?
When certain vegetable and herb plants flower it is a sign of bolting. Bolting is the production of flowering stems in vegetable and herb plants to give seed and reproduce. Bolting pulls the plant’s energy away from its viable parts (the leaves in the case of mint) and focuses it on flowering and reproduction.
You see, however, it will make the plant use its limited resources towards the flowering stalk, leaching it away from the leaves. Once mint bolts, you’ll find long flowering stems with cone-shaped inflorescences with purple, pink, or white flowers at the tips.
You could be wondering “What are the different kinds of mint plants?”
Here is what we discovered. if a plant’s green leaves have a sharp, minty smell, the odds are that it’s a member of the large mint family. Although spearmint and peppermint are the most popular choices for American gardens, other varieties have fascinating flavors, ranging from chocolate to lavender. Some are purely ornamental .
Does mint plant bloom?
A mint plant that’s provided with the right growing conditions will flower naturally . So you don’t need to do anything, in particular, to get it to bloom. Mint flowers start appearing in early summer and continue to bloom until early autumn. Young plants typically begin flowering in their second year.
Its small white or purple summer-blooming flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Mint plants grow quickly and should be planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Mint is toxic to animals if it is ingested 1 .
When we were reading we ran into the question “Is it OK to let Mint flowers flower?”.
One answer is, i’ve never experience mint flowers (only seen them on line) and I am curious to see them. However, I’ve been reading that after flowering the leaves become bitter, the plant gets woody, and the growth rate is reduced. I’ve also read that it is ok to let them flower . Which one is correct?
Should you cut off mint leaves when it blooms?
In fact, it is recommended that you remove the flower heads , as when mint plants flower, it can cause the plant to lose its essential oils, making the leaves less aromatic. Allowing your mint to bloom can cause the plant to produce fewer leaves and become less bushy, as it uses more energy in producing flowers.
How to grow and care for Mint?
Continue pinching the buds as soon as they appear, and the plant will keep on using its resources on the development of leaves rather than flower and seeds. When harvesting mint during the growing season , always cut out fresh sprigs evenly and timely from the plant’s tips.