FIELD MINT
Mentha canadensis
MINT FAMILY (Lamiaceae)
This mint is a native perennial. The erect, square stem, up to 2 feet tall, holds lance-shaped leaves and small, lavender tube flowers clustered around the upper leaf axils (A,B). It is not easy to positively differentiate this native species from hybrids and other commercial varieties. Look for the lavender flower clusters and smell the aroma of the crushed leaves.
Grows in damp and wet places, flowering from June through September. In Fontenelle Forest, locally common along the boardwalk leading to Handsome Hollow Trail.
Dense spikes of blue to violet flowers and anise-scented leaves separate this plant from Giant Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides) which has spikes of widely spaced white to yellow flowers.
The leaves contain aromatic oils. They are used for flavoring jellies and beverages. Local Native Americans drank field mint steeped in water as a carminative (look it up!) but also as a tea for its aromatic taste. Also known as Wild Mint.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.