Mentha ×piperita
Peppermint, Peppermint
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Mentha ×piperita (Peppermint) is a non-native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by Co-occurs with 11 other mint species; distinctive clustered inflorescence at upper nodes.
Peppermint is a naturalized perennial found in diverse California regions including coastal areas, the Sacramento Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills, central western California, southern California, Transverse Ranges, and desert mountains at elevations below 1,700 meters in moist fields and open places. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to pink or violet flowers in small clustered heads at the upper stem nodes. Growing with upright stems 30 to 50 centimeters tall that are generally smooth and green, it spreads readily in moist environments. Its leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, 2.5 to 5 centimeters long with serrated edges, tapering to a pointed tip and featuring a slightly lobed base. The plant is widely cultivated and known for its distinctive mint fragrance, spreading through both seed and vegetative reproduction.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 11 other mint species; distinctive clustered inflorescence at upper nodes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, fields
Elevation: < 1700 m
Outside California: to Canada, eastern United States, native to Europe, naturalized from cultivation
Bloom period
Mentha ×piperita blooms Jul-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Monardella: Monardella has one pom-pom head per stem; Mentha has multiple clusters stacked at intervals up the stem.; vs Salvia: Sage has flowers in an elongated terminal spike; Mentha has clusters distributed along the stem at leaf joints.; vs Stachys: Hedge-nettle has larger flowers and lacks the classic mint smell; Mentha is aromatic with smaller flowers.; vs Melissa: Lemon balm has flowers all on one side of the stem; Mentha's clusters encircle the stem evenly.; vs Clinopodium: Clinopodium has tiny flowers (pencil-eraser size); Mentha's flowers are noticeably larger and more visible.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mentha ×piperita native to California?
No. Mentha ×piperita is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Mentha ×piperita bloom?
Mentha ×piperita blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Mentha ×piperita belong to?
Mentha ×piperita is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Mentha.
What habitat does Mentha ×piperita grow in?
Mentha ×piperita grows in Moist places, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.