Japanese name: ヨウシュハッカ（洋種薄荷） Scientific name:Mentha arvensis
[Overview]
A perennial 10–60 cm tall, found in its native range in moist places such as along streams.
It is highly variable.
The stems and leaves are hairy, and the whole plant has a strong fragrance.
The stem is square in cross section.
Leaves are simple and opposite, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2–6.5 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, with hairs on both surfaces.
The leaf margins have low teeth.
There is a short petiole.
Whorled cymes arise at the stem tips.
The flowers are two-lipped and 4-lobed, pale purple, pink or white.
[Uses]
It is cultivated as a herb and used for herbal tea, medicine and fragrance, and its essential oil is also used.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or by cuttings.
It prefers sun to bright shade and slightly moist, well-drained soil.
It is hardy and spreads by underground stems, so when planted in a garden, it is better to make a barrier underground to keep it from spreading too much.
For potted plants, water when the soil surface dries.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary, and too much weakens the fragrance.
When the branches become crowded, they become stuffy and disease may occur.
