Ginger Mint, Golden Apple Mint, Scotch Mint

There are 2 species of Ginger Mint:
1) standard variegated Ginger Mint under the name Mentha gracilis "Variegated" which is a hy...Read Morebrid of Mentha arvensis and Mentha spicata(or not...mine gave seeds under normal conditions(100% hybrids because it does not have stamens - the plant virus that enables this mint to be variegated does this - just like pineapple mint though pineapple might give some pollen sometimes) - this was a really big shock for me because i read somewhere that this variegated species is a more "aristocratic" form of Mentha arvensis...or gave seeds because it was pollinated with other Mentha arvesis species from my yard. I have to see what the offspring is like and i will write back). This species is very hardy, upright, with most of the rhizomes underground and makes flowers near the leaf and stem like the usual Mentha arvensis. Has superior flavour than the non-variegated form.

2) newly introduced non-variegated form which is a Mentha aquatica var. citrata cultivar(just like lavender, orange, lime, lemon, eau de cologne cultivars). So it's a mint that is like the "sister" cultivars BUT it is the sweetest cultivar from the group (with lime mint being the most pungent. The sweet->pungent rating from these cultivars: Ginger -> Lavender -> Orange -> Lime). These species is very hardy, with large leaf but with runners above ground, somewhat slender and needs moisture or it will suffer...that because is a form of water mint.

Both species of this Ginger Mint have the "linalool" type oil that makes them sweet. BUT the variegated species has more of a Ginger tone that the non-variegated one. The non-variegated species is sweet and that is all. The variegated form has something that puts it closer to that Ginger "hint".

Also known as "Emerald & Gold"

One person's positive might be another person's negative! I love ginger mint with its gorgeous striated yellow/green color. I use it in...Read More perennial beds and in areas where other plants whimper and die without TLC. I grew it in Anchorage, Alaska and it was vigorous, although slow in emerging in the spring. Wet or dry, hot or cold, acid or alkaline, good soil or bad soil: it didn't seem to care much. It filled in spaces around other perennials. I learned to dig up the spreading plants to keep them in the areas I wanted them in. A planter or sloping bed of ginger mint on a sunny day is beautiful. It is invasive like all mints, so you have to keep on top of its spread. Personally, I don't find it very tasty in food or drink, although the smell is pleasant enough.

Richters herb/seed company labels Vietnamese mint under this species also. I am including a picture of my Vietnamese mint under this heading.