How to Grow Licorice Mint
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Licorice Mint
Mentha piperita var. citrata
herbLicorice mint is a aromatic perennial herb featuring dark green leaves with a sweet licorice-like flavor and minty undertones. It's a vigorous grower in the mint family, producing fragrant foliage that's excellent for culinary and ornamental purposes. The plant produces delicate purple or white flowers in summer and attracts pollinators.
When should you plant Licorice Mint in your zone?
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Example Licorice Mint timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Licorice Mint
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Licorice Mint
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Licorice Mint dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10, with best performance in zones 5-8
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Establishment
2-3 weeks after transplantingYoung plant with small, tender leaves developing root system and establishing growth pattern
Keep soil consistently moist, provide shelter from strong winds, pinch back growing tips to encourage bushiness
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksRapid foliage development with full green leaves, plant becoming fuller and more robust
Regular watering, fertilize every 3-4 weeks with balanced fertilizer, pinch back stems to promote branching and dense growth
Pre-Flowering
2-4 weeksPlant reaches mature size with dense foliage, flower buds begin to form on stem tips
Continue regular harvest to delay flowering and maintain leaf quality, ensure adequate moisture during warm spells
Flowering
4-8 weeks (summer)Delicate purple, pink, or white flowers appear on terminal spikes, attracting bees and butterflies
Can harvest leaves through flowering stage, deadhead spent flowers to extend harvest period, continue watering regularly
Senescence
Variable, through winter dormancyPlant growth slows in fall and winter, foliage may die back in cold climates as plant enters dormancy
Reduce watering, cut back dead stems to 2-3 inches above soil line in late fall, mulch heavily in cold zones for winter protection
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove affected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur-based fungicide if severe, replant in new location if condition persists
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Increase humidity and water misting, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, remove heavily infested leaves
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge, use insecticidal soap, neem oil, or introduce ladybugs
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Yellow sticky traps, neem oil spray, reflective mulch, encourage natural predators
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Hand-pick beetles, neem oil spray, improve plant vigor through proper care
Uses
Teas & Beverages
CulinaryFresh or dried leaves make delightful herbal tea with unique licorice-mint flavor. Excellent for hot teas, iced teas, cold beverages, lemonades, and cocktails. [source]
Desserts & Confections
CulinaryThe naturally sweet licorice notes complement desserts, chocolates, ice cream, candies, and fruit dishes without adding sugar. [source]
Digestive Support
MedicinalMint tea has been traditionally used to soothe digestive discomfort, reduce bloating, and support overall digestive health due to menthol content. [source]
Aromatherapy & Fragrance
HouseholdDried leaves provide pleasant natural fragrance for sachets, potpourri, and dried arrangements. Fresh leaves can be placed in rooms for natural air freshening. [source]
Culinary Garnish & Decoration
CraftAttractive purple flowers and aromatic leaves serve as both functional garnish and visual enhancement for plated dishes and beverages. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting when plant has at least 6 leaves, pinch from the top to encourage bushiness. Harvest in morning after dew dries for best flavor and essential oil content. Remove leaf pairs or stem sections just above a leaf node. For maximum yields, harvest regularly before flowering. Cut up to one-third of plant at a time. Leaves are best used fresh but can be dried by hanging bundles in shade or freezing in ice cube trays with water.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Licorice mint is a hybrid variety within the Mentha genus, combining peppermint characteristics with citrusy licorice notes that make it distinct from common garden mint
- 🌱 The plant's essential oils contain menthol and limonene, compounds that have been used in traditional medicine for centuries across multiple cultures
- 🌱 Like all mints, licorice mint spreads vigorously via underground rhizomes and is often grown in containers to prevent it from taking over garden beds
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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