Mint Plants for New Mexico

• New Mexico's climate makes it a good location for growing mint. Creative Crop/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow: it can thrive in nearly any type of climate, including the high desert and mountainous environment of New Mexico. These perennials are beneficial to gardens as their scent is a natural insect repellent. Thousands of mint varieties exist, but only a few cultivars perform well in gardens. No matter which variety you choose, maintenance is key. Most mint plants are invasive, so proper pruning and care is important.

Chocolate Mint

• The chocolate mint variety has brown stems and a faint but distinct chocolate aroma. It thrives in loamy soil mixed with potting soil for best drainage. While it performs well in full sun, it does best in partial shade. The flowers also attract butterflies in the summer. Provide occasional light fertilizing and pinch back the tips of young plants to encourage bushy and hearty growth. The plant can grow up to 1 1/2 feet tall with a 1 1/2- to 3-foot spread.

Spearmint

• The spearmint plant has large, ruffled leaves and a crisp, clean mint flavor. When planting spearmint, soil should be loamy and well-drained, with fertilizer added lightly when needed. It has a fragrant mint scent and repels insects. It is also resistant to disease and heat. It grows up to 1 1/2 feet tall with a 2- to 3-foot spread.

Corsican Mint

• Corsican mint's appearance is different than other mint herbs. It has small leaves, and grows low to the ground, simulating ground cover or clover. The herb originated in France and Italy and it will grow well in areas of New Mexico that tend to be warmer during the winter. It does not perform well in overly wet or dry conditions, but does well in damp places, such as northern facing walls. It is not as invasive as other mints. During winter, it dies out and reseeds in spring. If you grow your Corsican mint in full sun, you will need to water it more often than other mints.

Apple Mint

• The apple mint is hardier than other mint plants and prefers full sun to shady conditions. It is also taller than other mints, with sturdy, fuzzy, fragrant leaves. Apple mint attracts butterflies, bees and birds and its light pink flowers bloom in mid- to late summer. It needs an average amount of water and loamy soil. Apple mint is most often used to make apple mint jelly and teas.

Wild Mint

• Wild mint is native to most North American locations, including New Mexico. It can grow wild and invade your garden if not controlled. Wild mint is a single-stem herb, unlike other mints that creep and spread. It blooms in spring and early summer, and displays white flowers that attract bees. It is found most commonly in northern parts of New Mexico and has a shorter growing period than other mints. It does not tolerate arid conditions well, nor can it survive temperatures below 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Under ideal growing conditions, the plant may survive for up to 20 years, and reach a height of 2 1/2 feet.