Mentha ×villosa
Apple mint, Apple Mint
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Mentha ×villosa (Apple mint) is a non-native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by Co-occurs with 8 other mint species; distinctive canescent covering and limited to Transverse Ranges.
Apple mint is a naturalized perennial herb found in cultivated areas and moist fields of the Transverse Ranges below 900 meters elevation. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to pink or violet flowers in small, dense spike-like clusters. Growing with stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are generally grayish-white and hairy, it spreads through underground rhizomes. Its leaves are ovate to oblong, 2 to 6 centimeters long, with serrated edges and a tapered base that comes to an acute tip. The plant's soft, fuzzy texture and aromatic nature make it a distinctive addition to gardens and moist habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 8 other mint species; distinctive canescent covering and limited to Transverse Ranges
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, fields
Elevation: < 900 m
Outside California: to Canada, eastern United States, native to Europe, naturalized from cultivation
Bloom period
Mentha ×villosa 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 ×villosa native to California?
No. Mentha ×villosa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Mentha ×villosa bloom?
Mentha ×villosa blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Mentha ×villosa belong to?
Mentha ×villosa is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Mentha.
What habitat does Mentha ×villosa grow in?
Mentha ×villosa grows in Moist places, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.