Peppermint

The essential oil of the peppermint plant has been used by people for thousands of years. It is a common flavoring in sweet treats like baked goods, ice cream, candies, and chewing gum.

Although its pleasant flavor makes it a treat, its original use was for its medicinal properties. Peppermint tea is useful for nausea and relieves indigestion. Peppermint also can help to ease nervous or tension headaches.

A naturally occurring hybrid between spearmint and watermint, and native to Europe, peppermint is a hardy perennial in USDA zones 4 to 8. Peppermint prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade in warm enough regions. Due to its invasive and wide-spreading nature in the garden, mint is generally recommended to be grown in pots, containers, and garden boxes. Each packet contains 0.1 grams, which is about 1,000 seeds.