States
North CarolinaTennesseeGeorgiaSouth CarolinaKentuckyAlabamaFloridaVirginia
Menu

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

—
Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height
1–2 feet
Spread
1–2 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Bearded Beggarticks
    Bidens aristosa

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

  • Zigzag Goldenrod
    Solidago flexicaulis

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Blue Mistflower
    Conoclinium coelestinum

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Blue, pink or purple.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 13 Alabama counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

30CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Mentha

  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Argyrogramma verrucaGolden Looper
  • Autographa precationisCommon Looper Moth
  • Autoplusia egenaBean-Leaf Skeletonizer Moth
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Chrysodeixis includensSoybean Looper Moth
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
  • Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
  • Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
Show all 30
  • Fumibotys fumalisMint Root Borer
  • Hahncappsia mancalisCommon Hahncappsia
  • Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Heliothis phloxiphagaSpotted Straw Sun Moth, Darker Spotted Straw Moth
  • Lintneria eremitusHermit Sphinx
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Pyrausta acrionalisMint-Loving Pyrausta
  • Pyrausta laticlaviaSouthern Purple Mint Moth
  • Pyrausta orphisalisOrange Mint Moth, Orange Spotted Pyrausta
  • Rachiplusia ouGray Looper
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
  • Spodoptera latifasciaOrange-Striped Armyworm, Velvet Armyworm Moth
  • Spoladea recurvalisHawaiian Beet Webworm
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
  • Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
  • Udea rubigalisCelery Leaftier
  • Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Lamiaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH
Neutral
Flower color
Pink or white

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Alabama rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources