Best Mint Varieties for Scotland

Every mint here is hardy enough for a Scottish winter: it dies back to its roots and regrows in spring. And every one spreads by underground runnersLong, trailing stems a plant sends out that root where they touch soil, producing a genetically identical new plant for free. Full definition →, so it's best grown in a pot. What separates them is flavour, and how hard each one tries to escape.

What Scotland means for the choice

Hardiness hardly matters: spearmint, Moroccan, chocolate and lime mint are rated H7, hardy below -20°C, and apple and pineapple mint H5The RHS's H1a–H7 scale for how much cold a plant can survive outdoors, H1a being tender indoor-only and H7 hardy anywhere in the UK. Full definition →, hardy to between -15°C and -10°C, and all regrow from the roots each spring. The bigger issue in a wet climate is mint rust, a fungal disease that thrives in wet conditions and affects every type, along with powdery mildew. The mint growing guide covers containing mint in a pot, dividingPropagating a clump-forming perennial by digging it up and splitting it into several smaller pieces, each with roots and shoots attached. Full definition → it and dealing with rust.

None of them holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit: they're flavour types rather than judged cultivarsA plant variety that arose or was bred under cultivation and is kept true by deliberate propagation, rather than a naturally occurring wild species. Full definition →, so the choice is about taste and spread.

Which spread least

Every type can become a nuisance if its roots aren't restricted, so grow any of them in a pot. Gardener's World names chocolate, lime and pineapple mint as non-invasive, though the RHS gives all six the same caution, so treat that as "less vigorous" rather than safe to plant loose. Moroccan and chocolate mint have the smallest spread, up to 1m; spearmint, apple, pineapple and lime mint can reach 1.5m.

For cooking: spearmint, apple and Moroccan mint

Spearmint is the flavour most recipes assume, for new potatoes and drinks. It's also one of the most vigorous, so a pot matters most with this one. Apple mint has a milder, apple-scented flavour, the traditional choice for mint sauce and jelly. Moroccan mint has a clear, sweet flavour that suits tea, and spreads less than spearmint.

For something different: chocolate, lime and pineapple mint

Chocolate mint has a minty-chocolate scent, good in puddings and drinks. Lime mint has lime-scented, bronze-flushed leaves and is generally pest-free. Pineapple mint is mild and fruity, with cream-edged leaves that make a good garnish; prune out any plain green shoots, which grow more strongly. All three stay under 0.5m tall.

Which one for your situation

• Everyday cooking: spearmint.
• Mint sauce and jelly: apple mint.
• Tea: Moroccan mint.
• Puddings and drinks: chocolate or lime mint.
• A decorative pot: pineapple mint.
• The least spreading: Moroccan or chocolate mint, still in a pot.

Spearmint, apple and pineapple mint can get leafhoppers and caterpillars, and pineapple mint mint moth. All six grow in sun or partial shade.

Common questions

Sources