Mint Lemon
Lemon Mint Seeds
Glossy, purple-tinged foliage with a sophisticated citrus perfume. This vigorous 'Eau de Cologne' mint is a kitchen essential for zesty teas, exotic cocktails, and adventurous summer cooking.
If you can't decide between fresh mint and zesty lemon, this is the herb for you. Often called 'Eau de Cologne Mint', Mentha x piperita f. citrata is a true mint variety that has been naturally infused with a powerful citrus oil.
Unlike Lemon Balm (which is grassy and sweet), this plant has the vigorous growth habit and dark, glossy leaves of a peppermint, but crush a leaf and you get an explosion of lemon and lavender notes. It is absolutely incredible for making fresh herbal tea, muddling into summer cocktails, or chopping into fruit salads for a sophisticated twist.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Mentha x piperita f. citrata is a robust Hardy Perennial (H5). It is perfectly adapted to the UK climate, dying back to a dormant root system in winter and returning with fresh, purple-tinged foliage every spring.
The Container Rule: Like all true mints, Lemon Mint is a vigorous spreader via underground rhizomes. To prevent it from taking over your garden borders, it is strongly recommended to grow this plant in a pot or a dedicated container. This also makes it easy to keep near the kitchen for quick harvesting.
Bee Favourite: If allowed to flower in late summer, Lemon Mint produces attractive lilac flower spikes that are a major nectar source for honeybees and hoverflies when many other garden flowers are beginning to fade.
🌱 Growing Guide
Mint seeds are exceptionally small; they require light to trigger germination, so they should be surface-sown onto the soil.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to May. Scatter the tiny seeds thinly onto the surface of moist, free-draining seed compost. Do not cover the seeds with soil—a very light dusting of vermiculite is optional. Keep at 18-20°C; germination typically takes 14-21 days.
Where to Plant:
They thrive in full sun or partial shade. Lemon Mint loves rich, moisture-retentive soil and will grow best if the compost is never allowed to dry out completely. A pot on a semi-shady patio or near a kitchen door is a perfect location.
Ongoing Care:
To maintain a supply of fresh, citrusy leaves, shear the plant back hard after its first main flush of growth in mid-summer. Water regularly, particularly during dry UK summer spells. Every two years, divide the root ball to refresh the plant and prevent it from becoming pot-bound.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Mentha x piperita f. citrata |
| Common Name | Lemon Mint / Eau de Cologne Mint |
| Plant Type | Hardy Perennial |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy across the UK) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun / Part Shade ⛅ |
| Height | 30cm - 60cm |
| Spread | Indefinite (Invasive roots!) |
| Spacing | Plant in pots |
| Harvest Period | May to September |
| Perfect For | 🫖 Zesty Citrus Teas 🐝 Pollinator Magnet 🍸 Exotic Cocktails 🏺 Scented Containers |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 800 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
Lemon Mint is best grown in its own pot; pair it with these other container-loving varieties from our range to create a useful and fragrant display:
- 🌿 Thai Basil: The Aromatic Duo. Both of these herbs feature a unique citrus and spice undertone. Growing them in separate pots next to each other creates a wonderful "fusion" station for adventurous summer cooking.
- 🌼 Calendula 'Art Shades': The Colour Pop. The vibrant apricot and orange tones of Calendula look spectacular against the dark, glossy leaves of Lemon Mint. Both are edible and brilliant for a productive patio display.
📅 Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Sow in spring for a summer-long harvest of aromatic, citrus-infused mint leaves.
⚠️ Containment Strategy
Mint roots are unstoppable! To prevent Lemon Mint from spreading through your garden, always grow it in a dedicated pot or trough. This keeps the vigorous runners contained while giving you a bumper crop of zesty leaves.
🏆 RHS Plants for Pollinators
Lemon Mint is an excellent plant for pollinators. Its late-summer lilac flowers provide a vital nectar source for bees and hoverflies at a time when many other garden plants are beginning to fade.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Culinary Herbs →
Description
Lemon Mint Seeds
Glossy, purple-tinged foliage with a sophisticated citrus perfume. This vigorous 'Eau de Cologne' mint is a kitchen essential for zesty teas, exotic cocktails, and adventurous summer cooking.
If you can't decide between fresh mint and zesty lemon, this is the herb for you. Often called 'Eau de Cologne Mint', Mentha x piperita f. citrata is a true mint variety that has been naturally infused with a powerful citrus oil.
Unlike Lemon Balm (which is grassy and sweet), this plant has the vigorous growth habit and dark, glossy leaves of a peppermint, but crush a leaf and you get an explosion of lemon and lavender notes. It is absolutely incredible for making fresh herbal tea, muddling into summer cocktails, or chopping into fruit salads for a sophisticated twist.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Mentha x piperita f. citrata is a robust Hardy Perennial (H5). It is perfectly adapted to the UK climate, dying back to a dormant root system in winter and returning with fresh, purple-tinged foliage every spring.
The Container Rule: Like all true mints, Lemon Mint is a vigorous spreader via underground rhizomes. To prevent it from taking over your garden borders, it is strongly recommended to grow this plant in a pot or a dedicated container. This also makes it easy to keep near the kitchen for quick harvesting.
Bee Favourite: If allowed to flower in late summer, Lemon Mint produces attractive lilac flower spikes that are a major nectar source for honeybees and hoverflies when many other garden flowers are beginning to fade.
🌱 Growing Guide
Mint seeds are exceptionally small; they require light to trigger germination, so they should be surface-sown onto the soil.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to May. Scatter the tiny seeds thinly onto the surface of moist, free-draining seed compost. Do not cover the seeds with soil—a very light dusting of vermiculite is optional. Keep at 18-20°C; germination typically takes 14-21 days.
Where to Plant:
They thrive in full sun or partial shade. Lemon Mint loves rich, moisture-retentive soil and will grow best if the compost is never allowed to dry out completely. A pot on a semi-shady patio or near a kitchen door is a perfect location.
Ongoing Care:
To maintain a supply of fresh, citrusy leaves, shear the plant back hard after its first main flush of growth in mid-summer. Water regularly, particularly during dry UK summer spells. Every two years, divide the root ball to refresh the plant and prevent it from becoming pot-bound.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Mentha x piperita f. citrata |
| Common Name | Lemon Mint / Eau de Cologne Mint |
| Plant Type | Hardy Perennial |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy across the UK) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun / Part Shade ⛅ |
| Height | 30cm - 60cm |
| Spread | Indefinite (Invasive roots!) |
| Spacing | Plant in pots |
| Harvest Period | May to September |
| Perfect For | 🫖 Zesty Citrus Teas 🐝 Pollinator Magnet 🍸 Exotic Cocktails 🏺 Scented Containers |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 800 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
Lemon Mint is best grown in its own pot; pair it with these other container-loving varieties from our range to create a useful and fragrant display:
- 🌿 Thai Basil: The Aromatic Duo. Both of these herbs feature a unique citrus and spice undertone. Growing them in separate pots next to each other creates a wonderful "fusion" station for adventurous summer cooking.
- 🌼 Calendula 'Art Shades': The Colour Pop. The vibrant apricot and orange tones of Calendula look spectacular against the dark, glossy leaves of Lemon Mint. Both are edible and brilliant for a productive patio display.
📅 Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Sow in spring for a summer-long harvest of aromatic, citrus-infused mint leaves.
⚠️ Containment Strategy
Mint roots are unstoppable! To prevent Lemon Mint from spreading through your garden, always grow it in a dedicated pot or trough. This keeps the vigorous runners contained while giving you a bumper crop of zesty leaves.
🏆 RHS Plants for Pollinators
Lemon Mint is an excellent plant for pollinators. Its late-summer lilac flowers provide a vital nectar source for bees and hoverflies at a time when many other garden plants are beginning to fade.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Culinary Herbs →
