12 July 2024

Water mint

Look out for water mint with purplish leaves and stems, easily identified by the familiar minty smell when crushed. Oval serrated pointed leaves are in in opposite pairs on stiff square four-sided stems. It is widely distributed throughout Ireland, growing along watercourses and in wet grassland, creeping along by underground stems or rhizomes. It is a positive indicator species, meaning higher scores and farmer payments for land in ACRES CP (Co-operation Project) areas and Low Input Grassland in ARES General. Water mint was collected as an aromatic herb for use in cooking and had many medicinal purposes. Known as mismín mionsach as Gaeilge, water mint is part of our native Irish biodiversity.