The Herb Garden - Wild Mint (River Mint) | Aplus Farms

Wild MINT

A prolific, fast-growing groundcover, river mint is a case of plant, add water – plenty and often – and stand well back

River mint (Wild Mint) is a rambling native herb found in moist forests and waterways across southeast Australia. A summer grower, it especially thrives after floods, often on riverbanks or in bogs.

Also known as wild mint – in fact it's one of a half-dozen native mints – it's an aromatic if slightly subtler relative of more familiar exotic herbs like spearmint and peppermint and can be used in the same way.

Indigenous people, who knew it as poang-gurk, used it not only as a flavoursome food but also as an insect repellant and medicine, inhaling its crushed leaves to treat colds and sore throats and to relieve headaches.

The early settlers applied it liberally to their roast lamb and, of course, it can be used fresh or dried in sauces, salads, teas, water infusions and any cocktail that calls for mint, such as a julep or mojito.

Growing, Harvesting, storage

A low-growing perennial, river mint has soft, small leaves compared to exotic mints, growing in pairs on long running branches. In summer and autumn it sports white to mauve flowers that enhance its attractiveness as a garden herb.It's easily propagated by cuttings or by transplanting the runners. If grown from seed it can be slow to germinate. 

It will do well in moist, low-light areas where little else will grow and needs little feeding.River mint grows around 30cm high and 100cm wide but, given the right conditions – boggy soil, semi-shade and lots of water – it will spread far and wide if allowed to run wild. With its fast-running suckers, river mint is what gardeners call "leggy".

Although it does respond well to pruning, unless you want an ever-expanding groundcover it's easier to control in a container with a root barrier. Even when confined to a pot, its fresh minty scent is pervasive and irresistible.Harvest river mint leaves as needed or simply take whole stalks. It can be chopped and dried for later use but, as with any herb, its smell and flavour are best when used fresh.

Scientific

• Common name: River mint, wild mint, native mint 
• Aboriginal name: Poang-gurk
• Botanical name: Mentha australis 
• Family: Lamiaceae 
• Aspect & soil: Shade or semishade; moist to boggy soil 
• Best climate: Subtropical or temperate 
• Habit: Groundcover, clumping perennial 
• Propagation: Cuttings 
• Difficulty: Easy