Corsican Mint
Mentha requienii
Zones 8–13
Growing
This tiny, creeping herb is a standout choice for shady garden corners or as a fragrant living border between stepping stones. Because it forms such a dense, low-growing mat, it can actually withstand being trodden upon, making it an ideal groundcover for walkways. When planting, aim for a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. While the plant thrives in the shade and prefers to stay evenly moist, you must be careful not to let the soil become waterlogged; excessive moisture can quickly lead to leaf rot.
To keep your mint healthy, allow the surface of the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, ensuring you strike a balance between avoiding drought and preventing rot. If you are propagating new patches, you can easily expand your garden by using cuttings or division. If you harvest the leaves for use, you can store them in the fridge or dry them to preserve that potent peppermint aroma. This miniature perennial is also a wonderful way to naturally deter rodents from garden paths, as the strong scent is known to be unpleasant to rats and mice.
| Sun | part sun |
|---|---|
| Water | high |
| Grow time | <45 days |
| Height | <1ft |
| Spacing | <6in |
| Full sun | ✗ |
|---|---|
| Part shade | ✓ |
| Shade | ✓ |
| Life cycle | perennial |
|---|---|
| Category | herb |
| Growth habit | ground cover |
| Season | cool |
| Frost tolerance | half hardy |
| Height | under 1ft |
| Spacing | under 6in |
| Days to maturity | under 45 |
| Native us | ✗ |
| Water | high |
|---|---|
| Drainage | moist |
| Soil ph min | 6.0 |
| Soil ph max | 7.0 |
| Propagation | |
| Seed | ✓ |
| Cutting | ✓ |
| Division | ✓ |
| Graft | ✗ |
| Tuber bulb crown | ✗ |
| Transplant | ✓ |
| Container ok | ✓ |
| Pollination | self fertile |
| Pollinator friendly | ✓ |
| Toxic parts | |
| Leaves | ✗ |
| Seeds | ✗ |
| Raw | ✗ |
| Spread | runners |
| Deer resistant | — |
| Drought tolerant | ✗ |
| Toxic to | |
| People | ✗ |
| Pets | — |
| Livestock | — |
| Wash before storing | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Ripens off plant | ✗ |
| Curing days | none |
| Shelf life | under 3d |
| Storage methods | |
| Room temp | ✗ |
| Cool dark | ✓ |
| Fridge | ✓ |
| Freeze | ✓ |
| Can | ✗ |
| Dry | ✓ |
| Ferment pickle | ✓ |
| Blanch before freezing | — |
| Length | under 2wk |
|---|---|
| Colors | |
| White | ✗ |
| Yellow | ✗ |
| Orange | ✗ |
| Red | ✗ |
| Pink | ✗ |
| Purple | ✓ |
| Blue | ✗ |
| Green | ✗ |
| Mat height | 2–6in |
|---|---|
| Spread rate | fast |
| Foot traffic | light |
| Evergreen | ✓ |
| Lawn alternative | ✓ |
| Mowable | ✓ |
| Between pavers | ✓ |
| Erosion control | ✗ |
| Weed suppression | ✓ |
| Under trees | ✓ |
| Status | invasive |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✓ |
| Midwest | ✗ |
| Plains | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| Mountain west | ✗ |
| Pacific northwest | ✗ |
| California | ✗ |
| Hawaii | ✗ |
| State noxious | ✗ |
| Escapes cultivation | ✓ |
| Not suited to zone 7. Grows in zones 8–13. |
References: Wikipedia · USDA PLANTS: Mentha requienii (MERE7) · how this data is made