The leaves will be anywhere from 3/4 inch to 2 inches (2 to 5cm) long, and green, tinted with purple, especially on the undersides. The edges are serrated.
It grows along fresh water in damp ground, places such as along bogs, canals, fens, marshes, ponds, streams, and rivers. It is even happy to be partially submerged under water, and is very aggressive in wet soil. It will not, though, stand up to the kind of cold winters that North America can get.
It blossoms from mid to late summer with pale pinkish purple flowers.
To plant, put its crown under 3 inches (7.5 cm) of water.
It has a pronounced flavour of menthol. In fact, many people find the flavour too overpoweringly minty to use it as an added flavour in a dish.
Water Mint grows wild throughout Northern Ireland, Ireland, and England.
Language Notes
Called “Mismín mionsach” in Irish.