Chocolate mint is a close relative to peppermint (Mentha piperita). This hybrid is formed by crossing M. citrata (orange mint) with M. piperita to make the Chocolate cultivar, a sterile hybrid with the aroma of chocolate.
The plant grows about two feet tall and forms an attractive ground cover. The rounded, lance-shaped leaves are a darker green than other forms of mint. Lavender-colored flowers bloom in summer.
This vigorous, fast-growing plant spreads quickly via rhizomes. If you wish to keep chocolate mint contained, plant it in a pot instead of directly in the ground.
Chocolate mint, with its rich chocolatey fragrance and cool peppermint undertones, is a must-have herb for any gardener This beautiful and versatile plant is easy to grow once established, but getting it to its full mature size does require some patience and proper care. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about growing chocolate mint so you can enjoy its delicious flavor and enchanting scent in your own garden
Getting to Know Chocolate Mint
Chocolate mint (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate’) is a hybrid between peppermint and watermint that was selected for its distinctive chocolate aroma It has dark green, purple-tinted leaves and lavender flowers that bloom in summer. The plant can reach up to 2 feet tall and wide when fully mature.
This sterile hybrid mint cannot be grown from seed, so you’ll need to start with a young plant purchased from a nursery or propagated from a cutting Chocolate mint is winter hardy in zones 5-9. It spreads vigorously via underground rhizomes and aboveground runners once established.
Caring for Young Chocolate Mint Plants
When you first bring home a young chocolate mint plant, it will likely be in a 4-6 inch pot. Select a site for it in partial shade where it will receive 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Mint thrives in moist, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Space plants 18-24 inches apart.
Water newly planted chocolate mint frequently, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Cut back any flower stems to encourage leafy growth. Be patient – it can take a full growing season or longer for the plant to mature and reach its maximum size.
Getting Chocolate Mint to Mature Size
To get your chocolate mint to reach its full 2 foot height and spread, you’ll need to provide ideal growing conditions, especially ample moisture and partial shade. Here are some tips:
- Water 1-2 inches per week including rain, keeping soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
- Mulch around the plant to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds
- Fertilize with organic balanced fertilizer 2-3 times during spring and summer
- Prune back any flowering stems to promote leafy growth
- Harvest leaves frequently to encourage new growth
- Provide afternoon shade if possible
- Repot in early spring into a larger container or area of the garden
- Be patient! It can take over a year to reach mature size.
Caring for Fully Grown Chocolate Mint
Once your chocolate mint plant has reached its full mature size, you’ll need to do a bit of maintenance and care to keep it happy and productive:
- Water thoroughly when top inch of soil is dry. Provide 1-2 inches of water per week.
- Fertilize in spring and midsummer with organic fertilizer
- Prune back flower stems to prolong harvest season
- Harvest leaves often to stimulate new growth
- Watch for pests like spider mites and treat organically
- Repot or divide congested plants in early spring every 2-3 years
- Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and reduce weeds
Harvesting Chocolate Mint
The key to keeping chocolate mint plants productive is to frequently harvest the leaves. You can begin harvesting when the plant is at least 4-5 inches tall. Always harvest by pinching or cutting the stems just above leaf nodes to promote bushy regrowth.
The minty flavor is strongest just before flowering. Try to harvest in the morning after the dew has dried for maximum flavor. Fresh leaves will retain scent and flavor for 4 days refrigerated. They also dry, freeze, or infuse into oil very well.
Enjoying Chocolate Mint
Once you’ve grown and harvested a bountiful crop of chocolate mint, it’s time to enjoy its unique flavor and fragrance. Here are some of the many ways to savor this special herb:
- Add leaves to desserts like ice cream, brownies, cakes
- Make chocolate mint tea, hot or iced
- Use in cocktails such as mojitos and juleps
- Infuse in vinegar or olive oil for cooking
- Season lamb, fish, and chicken dishes
- Garnish fresh fruit and salad with chopped leaves
- Make chocolate mint sugar by blending dried leaves with sugar
- Create refreshing chocolate mint water by muddling leaves in cold water
With its intoxicating chocolatey notes, this beautiful mint is a must for herb gardeners and cooks alike. Follow proper care and growing guidelines, and soon you’ll have abundant chocolate mint to harvest and enjoy all season long.
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How to Get Chocolate Mint to Bloom
Mint plants usually flower in late spring or early summer when the heat gets intense with pink to lavender-colored panicles of blooms. The little flowers look like tiny knots. Bees and pollinators are attracted to its blooms. The flowers are not known for their scent; the leaves are the sweet-smelling star of this plant.
If growing this plant for its flavorful leaves and culinary uses, you will want to cut down buds before they flower. By allowing a plant to flower, the plant puts its energy into flower production, reducing the intense flavor of the leaves.
If you want to get your mint to bloom and it isnt, make sure to feed your mint during the growing season using a balanced fertilizer.
Another reason your plant fails to bloom could be that the container is too small, and the roots have become root-bound. To prevent a plant from becoming root-bound, repot in a new container 2 to 3 inches wider. A new pot should increase the growth rate and may encourage flowers.
Overwintering
If you live in hardiness zones 3 to 5, potted chocolate mint can overwinter outdoors with some protection. Cover the mint bed with a layer of coarse mulch, straw, or shredded wood or bark will allow it to be insulated.
In its hardiness zones, chocolate mint does not require any assistance to make it through winter.
HOW TO GROW CHOCOLATE MINT, tips, history, companion planting (Mentha x piperita)
FAQ
How big does chocolate mint get?
Chocolate mint plants typically grow to be about 1 to 2 feet tall and spread 1 to 2 feet wide. They can grow up to 3 feet tall in some cases according to Buchanan’s Native Plants.
Does chocolate mint come back every year?
Yes, chocolate mint is a perennial plant and will come back each year after dying back in the winter. Mint plants are generally hardy and can survive cold temperatures.
Will chocolate mint spread?
All types of mint (including sweet mint, spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint) are fast-growing, spreading plants, so you must give them a place to …
Is chocolate mint rare?
It began as a simple assignment: find a little information about chocolate mint and report back. It’s a common-enough herb, available at the farmers’ market. Like most mint, it will overrun a garden given half a chance.