Basil Mint Plant - Aromatic Mint for Cooking & Tea - The Healing Herb Garden

Basil Mint – Aromatic Mint for Pesto & Pasta

£5.95

Basil Mint (Mentha × piperita f. citrata 'Basil') has dark green leaves on purple-tinged stems and a flavour that is fresh mint with a warm, sweet basil note. Supplied as a healthy plant in a 9cm pot, it is easy to grow in a pot on the patio, by the kitchen door or on a windowsill.

Product Highlights

A unique blend of mint and basil aromas
Ideal for pesto, tomatoes and pasta
Perfect for pots, where it stays neat and contained
Hardy perennial that returns every year
Flowers loved by bees and butterflies

What You Receive

1 healthy, established Basil Mint plant in a 9cm pot
Grown and packed with care in the UK

How to Use It

Brilliant with tomatoes, in pesto, pasta and salads, and in fresh herbal tea.

Folklore & Fascinating Facts

Basil mint belongs to the citrata group of peppermints, famous for their unusual fruity and spicy scents.
In Greek myth, the nymph Minthe was turned into a mint plant by the jealous Persephone; Hades gave her a sweet scent so she would never be forgotten.

Botanical name: Mentha × piperita f. citrata 'Basil'

Common name: Basil Mint

Life cycle: Hardy herbaceous perennial

Height: 30–60cm

Spread: Spreads by runners; best contained

Flowers: Lilac, July to September

Flavour: Fresh mint with a warm, sweet basil note

Position: Full sun or partial shade

Soil: Moist but well-drained

Suitable for containers: Yes

Suitable for beginners: Yes

Pollinator value: High

Planting

Location: Full sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil.

Planting time: Spring to early autumn, avoiding frozen ground.

Containers: Use a pot at least 20–30cm across with multi-purpose compost. Repot or divide every 2–3 years to keep plants vigorous.

Care

Watering: Keep moist, especially in pots during summer. Mint does not like to dry out.

Feeding: A light liquid feed every few weeks in summer, especially for pot-grown plants.

Pruning: Pick regularly and cut back after flowering for a fresh flush of leaves. Cut down to the ground in late autumn.

Harvesting & Storage

Harvesting: Pick leaves and shoot tips from spring to autumn. The flavour is best just before flowering.

Storage: Use fresh, freeze chopped leaves in ice-cube trays, or dry in bunches somewhere warm and airy.

UK Growing Conditions

Fully hardy in the UK. Mint dies back in winter and regrows in spring. Mint spreads by underground runners, so grow it in a pot, or in a bottomless bucket sunk into the ground, to keep it contained.

Culinary Uses

Brilliant with tomatoes, in pesto, pasta and salads, and in fresh herbal tea.

Wildlife & Garden Benefits

Mint flowers attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and the fragrant leaves release their scent whenever you brush past.

Plants: Plants are carefully packed and normally dispatched within 2–4 working days. Some plants may be delivered at the most appropriate time for planting or potting on.

Seeds and garden supplies: Seeds and garden supplies are normally dispatched within 2–4 working days.

Seasonal items: Bulbs, bare-root plants, trees and other seasonal products may be dispatched at the appropriate planting time to support successful establishment.

What is Basil Mint used for?
Basil Mint is used in cooking, teas, and drinks, adding a fresh flavour that combines mint with soft, slightly sweet herbal notes. It works well in sauces, salads, and everyday recipes.

Is Basil Mint the same as basil?
No, Basil Mint is not the same as basil. It is a type of mint with a flavour that has similarities to basil, but it is a different plant with its own growth habit and characteristics.

Is Basil Mint edible?
Yes, Basil Mint is edible. The leaves can be used fresh in a wide range of dishes, as well as in teas and drinks.

Is Basil Mint invasive?
Like most mint varieties, Basil Mint can spread quickly if planted in the ground. Growing in containers is recommended to keep it under control.