Japanese name: グレープフルーツミント Scientific name:Mentha suaveolens ×M. piperita
[Overview]
A perennial 60–100 cm tall.
The whole plant has a scent resembling grapefruit.
The stem is square in cross section.
The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate-oblong to round, and hairy on both sides.
The leaf margins are toothed.
A spike-like verticillaster is produced at the stem tip.
The flowers are two-lipped and 4-lobed, pale purple to wisteria pink.
[Uses]
It is grown as a herb and used for herbal tea, potpourri, and for flavoring dishes and sweets.
It is also used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or by cuttings.
It prefers sun to bright shade and slightly moist, well-drained soil.
It is vigorous and spreads by extending underground stems, so when planted in a garden, it is better to build a frame 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 scent.
It is strongly drought tolerant and also tolerates heat and humidity, but if the branches become crowded, they become stuffy and disease may occur.
