But I thought that was a mint!
Sure most of us are familiar with mints like spearmint, peppermint, maybe even a few lesser- know varieties like pineapple mint and chocolate mints but how about a few wild mints? As you become more familiar with plants and their herbal usages it is interesting to go beyond the commonly cultivated varieties, we see in local garden centers and mail order catalogs. Here are few you may consider for your herb gardens and you will find resources at the bottom of the article where you may purchase these plants.
First, let me introduce you to an herbal mint with many common names like mountain balm, mountain mint, or mountain monarda, in a few places it is even called Pacific Monardella, and finally most commonly known as mountain pennyroyal. Botanically it is call Monardella odoratissima. Maybe you recognize it from a hike or visit to a favorite mountain cabin. It often grows on gravelly dirt roads not often traveled. The purple or pink blooms look similar to bachelor buttons often called cornflower or Centaurea cyanus.
Mountain pennyroyal is used to make cold steeped tea with fresh or dried leaves. Unlike other teas which are made by boiling water the essential oils in this herb are quickly released when heated so it is best to steep in cold water for 15-20 minutes.
The tea is not only refreshing it is often used for flatulence, upset stomach, and for relaxation when you have a cold or fever. Adding two teaspoons of chamomile will aide in a comforting tea for a long day filled with stress.
This is one native plant that you may collect without having to grow it in your own garden. I keep a calendar of when native things are blooming and collect many of my herbal tinctures from native material. It is important when you collect that you do not harm the mother plant and only take what you need so there are plenty of seed-heads for nature to continue to propagate. If you really enjoy the tea – add the plant to your medicinal herb garden or create a native plant herb garden.
Another native mint that you may collect easily is Mentha longifolia or wild mint, horsemint, or water mint. If you have ever tromped along a stream bank waist-high amid tall grasses, wild roses, and willows you have most likely pushed through a stand of wild stream bank mint.
This mint is rather tall and may have white or light blue to purple spiked flowers. Collecting this mint is done by cutting with sharp pruners-preferably by-pass type or scissors.
This mint is easily cultivated cutting a sprig and then placing it in a glass of water changing the water regularly you will soon find white hair roots at the bottom of the stem. I like to get a mass of roots before transplanting but as long as the roots are kept moist transplanting into the garden or a pot with rich soil should provide you with a good start for your mint collection.
The recipe for this refreshing wild mint tea to sooth digestion, aide in comforting a stressful day:
four heaping teaspoons of dried mint leaves, stems, and flower-heads. Let steep for 15-20 minutes, add ice or local organic honey, enjoy!
