Mentha Hillary’s Sweet Lemon Mint | 9cm Pot

A non-invasive spearmint with a lemon flavour. Position: full sun Soil: humus-rich, moisture retentive soil Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: July to August Hardiness: fully hardy Named for the First Lady, Hillary Clinton, this mint has grey-green foliage with a strong, lemony aroma from its spreading growth of fresh-green leaves in addition to light purple flower spikes in summer. A fresh mint tea made from the leaves will be refreshing on hot summer days and an alternative to classic mint tea adding a subtle citrus overtone. Garden care: Trim to remove developing flowers if you wish to sustain and refresh the leaves. When plants have finished flowering in summer, cut flowered shoots back to 5cm (2in) above the surface of the compost. Less invasive than other mint varieties, restrict any spread by growing it in a sunken container, with adequate drainage holes. Cut back the old stems in autumn and repot container-grown plants annually in spring, replanting the younger, vigorous sections of the plant in fresh compost.