Mentha × wirtgeniana, known as tall mint, is a hybrid mint species within the genus Mentha, native to Europe. It was first described in 1854.
Description Mentha × wirtgeniana is a perennial plant that can grow up to about 1 metre tall.
Taxonomy Mentha × wirtgeniana was first described by Friedrich Wilhelm Schultz in 1854. It was later often treated as a variety or subspecies of Mentha × rubra, but is accepted as a full hybrid species by Plants of the World Online . It is a hybrid between M. spicata (spearmint) and M. × verticillata, itself a hybrid between M. aquatica and M. arvensis, and often arises spontaneously in the presence of both parents.
Distribution Mentha × wirtgeniana is native to Europe from France to Romania. It has been introduced elsewhere, including Great Britain and Ireland, Greece, Cape Verde, and Nova Scotia.
Cultivation and uses It is a moderately cold-hardy, fast-growing, plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -20°C when fully dormant.
This hybrid is occasionally cultivated in European gardens, displayed for aromatic purposes, though it has a low essential oil content.
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