Bowles's Mint

Named after the famous plantsman E.A. Bowles, this is arguably one of the best culinary mints for the UK garden. It is a vigorous, herbaceous perennial with large, rounded, grey-green leaves that are covered in soft, velvety hairs, giving it a distinct appearance compared to the more common spearmint. The flavour is exceptionally well-rounded and mellow, without the bitter aftertaste sometimes found in other varieties, making it the preferred choice for many chefs for making mint sauce or infusing in tea. Like all mints, it has an invasive spreading habit via underground runners and is best grown in a large pot or a restricted bed to prevent it from taking over. It thrives in moist soil and can tolerate a bit of shade, which is useful in smaller urban gardens. In late summer, it produces spikes of lilac flowers that are very popular with butterflies and hoverflies. Robust and reliable, it is fully hardy throughout the UK.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist, fertile soil.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Aug, Sep.