Types of mint and its varieties: review with description and photos

One of the most ancient plants, useful properties of which mankind has enjoyed for a long time, there is mint. Its most famous variety is catnip. But this is just one species from a huge list. This article will tell you more than just that, which mint variety is the most popular, but also about the plant as a whole.

About the plant

Common mint, as well as its other grades, is a perennial plant, which grows well on cultivated soils. The culture belongs to the Yasnotkov family. Not picky about choosing a place to grow: it grows as in well-lit places, and in the shadows. The plant looks like a small herbaceous shrub with flexible stems, on which small flowers are collected in inflorescences. The flowering period lasts almost all summer. Different varieties can grow to a height of 30 see to 1 m, and sometimes higher.

Distinctive feature of almost any species (catnip, pepper, ordinary, ombalo, etc.) there is a pronounced menthol cooling taste. These are very fragrant plants. Therefore, many varieties are especially valued in cooking.

Collection of aerial parts of plants of different varieties (catnip, ombalo, etc.) for culinary purposes is carried out after the end of the flowering period. It is at this time that the maximum amount of essential oils accumulates in the leaf, which gives them a menthol flavor. Cut cuttings and leaves should be stored in a dark container. They can be used as ingredients in various dishes or added to tea.

The leaves and petioles of this culture have the following medicinal properties:

• provide antispasmodic, antiseptic and analgesic effect;
• relieve inflammation in the respiratory tract;
• have a beneficial effect on the nervous system (calming effect).

All varieties of this plant (catnip, pepper, ordinary, ombalo, etc.) not demanding on feeding. In order to grow them you need only moderate watering.

Reproduction of all varieties is carried out in the following ways:

• roots;
• rooting of leaves;
• petioles;
• seeds.

If you decide to grow this plant in your garden, it is better not to do it in the open ground, and in special pots. It is important to keep this in mind when growing it in your backyard, that the beneficial properties of the plant directly envy the percentage of leaves and petioles of essential oils. In turn, their number depends on the conditions created for growth. In warm regions, catnip, ombalo and other varieties will be more saturated with essential oils. It is in such regions that the plant is cultivated on an industrial scale.

Mint varieties differ in inflorescences, leaf shape, as well as properties. Therefore, choosing this plant for growing in the garden, you need to know, what is mint in general and its main properties.

Mint Video

In this video, the farmer talks about different varieties of mint and the peculiarities of their cultivation.