Japanese name: オーデコロンミント Scientific name:Mentha ×piperita ‘Citrata’
[Overview]
A perennial 30–90 cm tall.
It spreads by rhizomes.
It is hairless, and the whole plant has a lemon-like scent.
The stem is square in cross section.
The leaves are simple and opposite, lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate, and tinged with purple.
The leaf margins are serrated.
Round, head-like clusters of verticillasters are produced at the stem tips.
The flowers are two-lipped, 4-lobed and wisteria pink.
[Uses]
It is widely cultivated as an herb and is used for herbal tea, potpourri, and flavoring in cooking.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or stem cuttings.
It prefers a location from sun to bright shade and slightly moist, well-drained soil.
It is hardy and spreads by extending underground stems, so when planting in a garden, it is better to make a border below ground to keep it from spreading too much.
For potted plants, water when the soil surface dries.
Fertilizer is not particularly needed, and too much weakens the scent.
It is strongly drought tolerant and also tolerates heat and humidity, but if the branches become crowded, they become stuffy and disease can occur.
