If you’re looking to add a splash of intense color and refreshing scent to your garden, few plants deliver like mint plants with purple flowers. These varieties combine the familiar, aromatic foliage of mint with stunning vibrant purple blooms that attract pollinators and lift the visual appeal of any space.
Growing these plants is straightforward, but knowing which types to choose and how to care for them makes all the difference. This guide gives you the practical steps to succeed.
Mint Plants With Purple Flowers
Not all mints produce purple flowers, but the ones that do are truly special. The flower spikes rise above the green or sometimes purple-tinged foliage, creating a beautiful two-tone effect. The blooms are typically small, tubular, and densely packed on the spike, making them a fantastic nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Here are some of the most popular and reliable varieties to consider for your garden:
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita): A classic. Its flowers are a soft lavender-purple and appear in late summer. The leaves have that strong, familiar cooling scent.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata): Often produces pale lilac to pinkish-purple flowers. It’s slightly sweeter than peppermint and equally vigorous.
Grapefruit Mint (Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Grapefruit’): This one offers a citrusy twist. Its blooms are a vibrant purple, contrasting wonderfully with its bright green leaves.
Buddleia Mint (Mentha longifolia ‘Buddleia’): Known for its long, showy spikes of deep purple flowers that resemble butterfly bush blooms, hence the name.
Chocolate Mint (Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Chocolate’): The leaves have a subtle chocolatey aroma, and the flowers are a lovely shade of violet-purple.
Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’): While its flowers are a soft white or pale pink, its stunning variegated foliage makes it a perfect companion to the purple-flowering mints in a container or border.
Choosing the Right Location and Soil
Mint is famously vigorous, sometimes even invasive. Success starts with putting it in the right place. These plants are not overly fussy, but a good start leads to healthier growth and better flowering.
First, consider sunlight. Mint plants with purple flowers generally prefer full sun to partial shade. At least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight will encourage the strongest growth and the most abundant blooms. In very hot climates, afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch.
The soil condition is crucial. Mints thrive in rich, moist, and well-draining soil.
* Drainage is Key: While they like moisture, they hate sitting in waterlogged soil. If your soil is heavy clay, you’ll need to amend it.
* How to Improve Soil: Mix in several inches of compost or well-rotted manure before planting. This improves drainage, adds nutrients, and helps retain the right level of moisture.
* Soil pH: A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal. You can get a simple test kit from any garden center to check.
Because of mints spreading habit, containment is often the smartest strategy. Consider these options:
* Containers: This is the most popular and effective method. Use a pot that is at least 12 inches wide and deep with drainage holes.
* In-Ground Barriers: If planting in a garden bed, sink a large pot or a specialized root barrier at least 12 inches deep around the mint’s root ball to restrict its runners.
* Dedicated Beds: You can also plant mint in a seperate, confined area where its spread won’t matter—or might even be welcome as a ground cover.
Planting Your Purple-Flowering Mint
You can start mint from seed, but it’s easier and faster to use nursery plants or root cuttings from a friend. The best times to plant are in the spring or early fall, when temperatures are mild.
Follow these simple steps for planting:
1. Prepare Your Spot. Whether in a pot or ground, loosen the soil and mix in compost.
2. Dig a Hole. Make it just a bit larger than the root ball of your plant.
3. Place the Plant. Set the mint in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
4. Backfill and Water. Fill in around the roots with soil, gently firm it down, and water thoroughly to settle the plant in.
If planting multiple mints for a bigger display, space them about 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for air circulation, which helps prevent disease.
Essential Care and Maintenance
Once established, mint is very low-maintenance. Consistent care, however, will give you lusher leaves and more of those desirable vibrant purple blooms.
Watering and Feeding Schedule
Mint likes consistently moist soil. Check the top inch of soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water. Container plants will need watering more frequently, especially in hot summer weather. A layer of mulch around the plants (not touching the stems) helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Feeding is simple. A single application of a balanced, all-purpose organic fertilizer in the spring is usually sufficient. Too much fertilizer can lead to lots of leaves with less flavor and fewer flowers, so its best not to overdo it.
Pruning and Harvesting Tips
Regular pruning is actually good for mint. It encourages bushier, more compact growth and can promote more flowering later in the season.
* Pinch the Tips: Regularly pinching off the top sets of leaves encourages the plant to branch out.
* Harvest Often: You can harvest up to one-third of the plant at any time. Cut stems just above a set of leaves.
* Prevent Flowering for Leaf Growth: If you want a bigger harvest of leaves, you can cut off the flower buds as they form. This directs the plant’s energy back into foliage productio. But if you want the blooms, just let them grow!
Managing Pests and Diseases
Mint is relatively pest-resistant due to its strong scent, but a few issues can pop up.
* Spider Mites and Aphids: These small sap-sucking insects can be a problem in dry conditions. A strong spray of water from the hose often dislodges them. Insecticidal soap is an effective organic option for heavier infestations.
* Rust and Mildew: Fungal diseases like mint rust or powdery mildew can occur, especially in crowded, damp conditions. Ensure good air flow, avoid overhead watering, and remove any badly affected leaves immediately.
Propagating for More Plants
Creating new mint plants is incredibly easy and a great way to share with fellow gardeners. The two most reliable methods are stem cuttings and division.
Propagation by Stem Cuttings:
1. In spring or summer, cut a 4-6 inch healthy stem just below a leaf node.
2. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
3. Place the cutting in a glass of water, ensuring the leafless nodes are submerged.
4. In about 1-2 weeks, roots will appear. Once they are an inch long, pot the cutting up in soil.
Propagation by Division:
1. In spring, dig up an established mint clump.
2. Use a sharp knife or spade to cut the root ball into several smaller sections, each with its own stems and roots.
3. Replant each division immediately at the same depth it was growing before, and water well.
Using Your Mint and Its Flowers
The leaves of your mint plants with purple flowers are perfect for all the usual culinary uses: teas, cocktails like mojitos, salads, and sauces. But don’t forget the blooms!
The flowers are edible and have a milder mint flavor. They make a beautiful, fragrant garnish for desserts, drinks, and summer salads. You can also cut the flower spikes for small, aromatic bouquets. They won’t last super long in a vase, but they bring a lovely fresh scent indoors.
To preserve your harvest, you can dry the leaves or freeze them in ice cube trays with a little water. The flowers can be dried for potpourri or used to infuse vinegar.
FAQ About Purple-Flowering Mint
Q: Are all mint flowers purple?
A: No, mint flower color can range from white and pink to lavender and deep purple. The specific variety determines the bloom color.
Q: Is mint with purple flowers safe for pets?
A: While mint is not highly toxic, it can cause stomach upset in dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities. It’s best to place it where pets can’t easily nibble on it.
Q: Why is my mint not flowering?
A: Too much nitrogen fertilizer, excessive harvesting of tips (where flowers form), or not enough sunlight can all delay or prevent flowering. Ensure it gets enough sun and ease up on pruning if you want to see blooms.
Q: Can I grow these mints indoors?
A: Absolutely. Place the pot in a sunny south or west-facing window where it gets at least 4 hours of direct light. Water when the top soil feels dry and rotate the pot regularly for even growth.
Q: How do I stop mint from taking over my garden?
A: The single best method is to grow it in containers. If planted in the ground, use deep root barriers (like a bottomless pot sunk into the soil) to contain the spreading runners.
Growing mint plants with purple flowers is a rewarding project that adds beauty, fragrance, and utility to your garden. With their vibrant purple blooms and easy-care nature, these plants offer a lot for very little effort. By choosing the right variety, providing simple care, and managing their growth, you’ll enjoy their benefits for seasons to come.