You may smell Wild Mint before you spot it, especially if you brush past the plant and bruise the leaves. Wild Mint is 6-24 in tall with pairs of jagged oval leaves (up to 2.5 in long, 1 in wide) opposite each other along the square hairy stem. Clusters of small, bell-like pink to purple flowers circle the stem above the leaves.
Wild Mint can be found across North America from Alaska in the north to Texas in the south. It flowers from July to September.
Did you know? Flies and wasps visit the flowers for nectar. However, the mint oil's anti-bacterial properties may cause indigestion in cattle and livestock.
Easy - numerous and usually easy to spot
in the habitats listed at the appropriate time of
year.
Wetlands are low-lying areas that are covered by
water all or most of the time and support a variety of
aquatic plants. This habitat includes rivers, streams,
lakes, ponds, bogs, and marshes.