Their growth behavior raises questions among hobby gardeners. Sometimes mint grows tirelessly for many years, only to appear unexpectedly in a distant place or to no longer appear at all. Is it an annual or a perennial? Find out the answer here.
Is mint annual or perennial?
Is mint perennial? Yes, mint is a perennial plant whose above-ground shoots wither in autumn and sprout again in spring. However, depending on the type of mint, it is sensitive to frost. Winter protection and sufficient water supply are essential for their survival.
Perennial by nature – although not unconditionally
From a botanical point of view, mint is one of the perennial, herbaceous mint family. This assignment implies that the above-ground shoots wilt in autumn. The underground roots and runners overwinter deep in the ground to sprout again the next spring. This is a given for robust species such as field mint. Sensitive varieties, such as banana or pineapple mint, will freeze to death in rough locations. How to prevent:
- cut back the dead shoots close to the ground in late autumn
- cover the planting site with leaf mold, coniferous twigs or straw
- Place mint in a pot in front of the south wall on wood or Styrofoam
- Wrap the planter with bubble wrap (€34.00 on Amazon) or jute
It is important to remember to remove winter protection in a timely manner. As soon as temperatures consistently exceed zero degrees, there is a risk of rot and mold forming under a cover.
Watering mint in winter
Mint cannot play its trump card as a perennial plant if it dies of thirst in winter. This danger threatens if it freezes in bright sunshine without a blanket of snow spreading. Since the roots have no access to water above or below ground, they are watered on a frost-free day.
Consistently contain the urge to spread – this is how it works
Their profile reveals that mint can live up to 25 years. During this long stay in the garden, it spreads its vigorous runners to suddenly thrive far away from its assigned location. Anyone who wants to keep control of their green kingdom as a hobby gardener can limit the invasion in this way:
- Always plant mints in the bed with a root barrier
- Place young plants in the ground in a mortar bucket without soil
- alternatively with a rhizome barrier surrounded by stable geotextile
Tips & Tricks
On mints without root barriers in the bed, the runners should be regularly separated with a spade. These rhizome parts are much too good to be disposed of in the compost, because they are ideal for propagation. Simply plant it in a pot or in a new location and a young plant will thrive.
